The Sky Sport Tall Ferns are into the second day of their preparation ahead of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying series, tipping off at The Trust’s Arena in Henderson Auckland on Thursday night. Within the squad of 14 is Matangiroa Flavell, whose Olympic dream has been ignited since returning to the game she momentarily left.
As a child, Flavell attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Koutu in Rotorua and then spent six months at Otago University studying health science. Then the opportunity to attend college in the United States arose on a basketball scholarship. She spent two years in Junior College at Midland Community College in Texas. After graduating from Midland she moved on to Houston Baptist University for the 2018/19 NCAA season, but things didn’t pan out as expected.
She made the call to return to New Zealand last year, after cutting short her time on an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship. At that time, she thought her dream of playing for the Tall Ferns had probably ended.
“Yes, I had a bit of a rough patch that ended with me coming back home. I really loved it at Houston, but it wasn’t working out with the coach and I thought that might be it for me and basketball.”
With her dream of playing for the Tall Ferns looking blurry, Flavell returned home and spent time away from the court. But the love of the competitive game was too strong and the 22 year-old realised she still had the desire to play basketball at the elite level.
“After two months off, I realised I did want to make something out of these years playing basketball. That is why I made the move to Auckland.”
The Rotorua native joined Harbour Breeze where she enjoyed instant success helping the team to the 2019 Women’s Basketball Championship (WBC) Final where, in a classic encounter, they went within a whisker of beating eventual champions Auckland Dream.
Despite her good form during the WBC season, being asked to join the national team came unexpectedly. Head Coach Guy Molloy was putting a squad together for the July tour of Japan and then the William Jones Cup in Taiwan, with an eye for developing depth in the squad.
“That call from Guy was insane, probably the best call I have ever received. I was assuming that he would just be interested in having me go to camp or trialling but, just on the spot, he offered me the opportunity to go overseas with them and that was the biggest thing. I was shocked because it was just straight off the bat.”
The 180cm shooting guard debuted for the Tall Ferns in Japan, but got injured at the William Jones Cup in Taiwan where the Ferns finished runners-up.
“I came home with an ankle injury. I missed out on two games on the tour. Once home, I just tried to have a bit of a break to keep my head clear from basketball and then gradually get back into it. Since being cleared to train again, it has been all about getting fit and ready to go again.”
Head Coach Guy Molloy says that Flavell is in the squad as a development player identified as a Tall Fern of the future. While this Tall Ferns squad has called on the experience of New Zealand’s best and Flavell is listed as an emergency reserve, Molloy says we will be seeing a lot more of her.
“When we selected this wider squad of 14, we felt that having her around the team of 12 was important and valuable to increase her exposure to the Tall Ferns. She fits into our culture and style of game really well. She plays well both ends – a pretty rugged defender and can shoot the shot pretty well – so we think she’s got plenty to offer in the future,” says Molloy.
Flavell is the youngest child of former Maori Party co-leader and Parliamentarian Te Ururoa Flavell who says he’s very proud of his daughter’s achievements.
“For her to have the opportunity to represent the country is pretty awesome.
“Going to Japan and Taiwan, and being around a team that is all about whanau was pretty special for her. She learnt some real lessons. Learning to cope with the pressure and the standards that are required at the international level,” he said.
Te Ururoa certainly supported his daughter’s decision to return from the US.
“She went over there, her first time away from home. She comes from an environment where it is all about family and a Māori speaking environment. Obviously she can speak English, but the environment overseas would have been foreign to her.
“She made some very special friends and did everything she could to play her part on the basketball team. She had high hopes and dreams when getting into Houston but ultimately decided it was better for her to come home, and we were happy with that decision.
“It may have been best in the long run as she still has her whole career ahead of her,” he added.
Matangiroa is currently based in Hamilton after being offered a full-time job by her sister, who owns action-wear line Hine Collection, and is frantically trying to juggle work and basketball training.
“Chris Fox my, brother in-law and former coach back in high school, is training me when he is able to. Then I have also just started training with Coach Alex Stojkovic. He has been really cool. It is busy as I am working full time, so it’s a juggle to fit everything in and prioritise everything,” said the shooting guard.
When quizzed about her future career options entering politics is not an option.
“Certainly not,” was the emphatic answer from Flavell.
She admits that having a father who was a high profile public servant had its drawbacks.
“His work had a lot of pressure to deal with, so it was hard to not talk about it in hard times. But yes, we were surrounded by politics all the time.
“During high school and intermediate, that was his busiest time. It was quite difficult for him to get to basketball games or tournaments, but that doesn’t mean that he didn’t try and make the effort to come, he really did. He was also in parliament and he had important things to cater to at times.”
Flavell is enjoying the fact that her father now has a little more time to watch her play.
“When he does come to watch my games it is quite a big deal for me, it is really cool, but I do get nervous.”
The final squad of 12 will be announced on Wednesday night.
More information: Women’s Olympic Qualifying Series in Auckland
Schedule: Day Tickets start from only $8.50 (two games per day):
• Thurs 14 Nov, 5pm. KOREA V CHINA
• Thurs 14 Nov, 7:30pm. NEW ZEALAND V PHILIPPINES
• Sat 16 Nov, 3pm. PHILIPPINES V KOREA
• Sat 16 Nov, 5:30pm. CHINA V NEW ZEALAND
• Sun 17 Nov, 3pm. PHILIPPINES V CHINA
• Sun 17 Nov, 5:30pm. KOREA V NEW ZEALAND
Venue: The Trust’s Arena, Auckland
Tickets: on at Ticketek.co.nz
Follow: @TallFerns on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Hashtags: #TallFerns #GirlsGotGame
Watch: Live broadcast on Sky Sport
Website: www.TallFerns.basketball
Event website: http://www.fiba.basketball/pre-oqtwomen/asia/2019/
