Two New Zealand Select teams will be heading to the Buddha’s Light International Association Cup in Taiwan later this month, to contest the annual BLIA Cup.
Basketball New Zealand (BBNZ) are sending both a men’s and women’s New Zealand Select Team to this prestigious tournament, held from 23-28 July 2024 at Kaohsiung Arena in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The trip is generously funded by the Fo Guang Shan/International Buddhist Association New Zealand.
The NZ Women’s Select Team, coached by Ryan Dubbeldam, will include: Rangikahiwa (Honey) Cooney, Hannah Dunn, Opal Hardy, Cassidy (Hana) Lacey-Rameka, Allyah Leusogi-Ape, Piri Lewis, Aliyah Newton, Hineaupounamu (Missy) Nuku, Izzy Pugh and Lauren Tewhata.
The NZ Men’s Select Team will comprise of: Adam Barton, Will Blight, Jonty Bond, Ezrah Eagle, Julius Halaifonua, Mahnaya Heke, Carter Hopoi, Ryan Hunt, Xanda Marsters, Kahu Treacher, Chris Wyllie and Josh Wyllie and will be coached by Matt Lacey.
The BLIA Cup has been operating since 2009, with New Zealand participating for the third time; after first attending in 2019 with the University of Otago Men’s team and again in 2023 with the Lincoln University Men’s and Women’s team. This years’ edition of the tournament features university and invitational teams from the United States, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan.
The Cup is the concept of Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who founded the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order in New Zealand and sadly passed away in 2023. The tournament is organised by the Fo Guang Shan order in Kaohsiung, who base the tournament on the guiding principle that sports can be an opportunity to train the body and enhance its strength. Venerable Master Hsing Yun believed that basketball in particular can teach respect for one’s opponents, nurtures one’s willingness to admit mistakes, encourage one to be more proactive and teaches the value of team spirit.
While in Kaohsiung, the New Zealand delegation will stay at a local monastery and will experience many elements of Buddhist culture; including a tour of the famous Buddhist Temple Museum in Taiwan.
Lauren Tewhata, who attended the BLIA Cup in 2023 with the Lincoln University Women’s team, says that the tournament is an amazing experience – both on and off the court.
“The basketball itself is at such a high level – we were playing international teams from the United States and Taiwan – but the culture is amazing too; it’s so nice to get to know more about their way of life, their temples and the respect they have for others,” says Tewhata.
“I’m really excited to go back again this year – this time with the NZ Women’s Select Team – to see how far we can go in this competition. We’ve got great coaching staff and I’m looking forward to reuniting with teammates like Missy [Nuku] who I played with many years ago, and some of the other hard-hustle girls we’ve got out there.”
Tewhata says that opportunities like this are something she never takes for granted.
“I never thought I’d be able to go to Taiwan last year, and this year to have the chance to go again – I’m so grateful that basketball has been able to take me to so many places around the world over the past few years.”
With the majority of the Junior Tall Blacks squad in this NZ Men’s Select Team heading to Taiwan, Junior Tall Blacks head coach Matt Lacey says the timing of the BLIA Cup – ahead of the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in September – is fortuitous.
“The BLIA Cup is a fantastic preparation tour for us ahead of the U18 Asia Cup, in the sense that we’ll be playing Asian teams and experiencing that Asian style of play, which is quite differently from what we’ve exposed our athletes to over the past eighteen months,” says Lacey.
“So it’s a good opportunity for many of our national team athletes to gain some additional experience on the world stage, prior to their pinnacle age group tournament in September.”
New Zealand Men’s Select Team – Roster
Adam Barton, Nelson Basketball Association
Will Blight, Nelson Basketball Association
Jonty Bond, Nelson Basketball Association
Ezrah Eagle, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Julius Halaifonua, NBA Global Academy / Harbour Basketball Association
Mahnaya Heke, Waikato Basketball
Carter Hopoi, Tauranga Basketball Association
Ryan Hunt, Waitakere West Auckland Basketball
Xanda Marsters, Rotorua Basketball Association
Kahu Treacher, Eastern Arizona College (US)
Chris Wyllie, Harbour Basketball Association
Josh Wyllie, Harbour Basketball Association
New Zealand Men’s Select Team – Schedule
Tue 23 July, 8.40pm NZT – NZ Men’s Select Team vs National Formosa University (TPE)
Wed 24 July, 3.40pm NZT – Malaysia Select Team vs NZ Men’s Select Team
Thu 25 July, 7.40pm NZT – NZ Men’s Select Team vs Guang Ming College (PHI)
New Zealand Women’s Select Team – Roster
Rangikahiwa (Honey) Cooney, Tauranga Whai
Hannah Dunn, Northern Kāhu
Opal Hardy, Garden City Community College (US)
Cassidy (Hana) Lacey-Rameka, Canterbury Basketball
Allyah Leusogi-Ape, Gillette College Pronghorns (US)
Piri Lewis, Waikato Wizards
Aliyah Newton, Canterbury Basketball
Hineaupounamu (Missy) Nuku, Lakeland Rustlers (Canada)
Izzy Pugh, Milwaukee Panthers (US)
Lauren Tewhata, Taranaki Thunder
New Zealand Men’s Select Team – Schedule
Tue 23 July, 2.40pm NZT – NZ Women’s Select Team vs National University (PHI)
Wed 24 July, 2pm NZT – Malaysia Select Team vs NZ Women’s Select Team
Thu 25 July, 6pm NZT – Fo Guang University (TPE) vs NZ Women’s Select Team
