The 2019 National Tertiary Championship Tournament tips off in Christchurch tomorrow morning (Friday 20 September). The University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) competition marks the first time since the resurrection of the tournament in 2016 that all eight New Zealand Universities have entered both men’s and women’s competitions.
Otago University, the defending men’s champions from 2018, are returning with the majority of their team with seven players who won last year. New Zealand Under 23 3×3 Representative Josh Aitcheson will be looking to lead his team to another win. Junior Tall Black’s Joe Ahie and Sam Colenutt, as well as NZ 3X3 player Nathan Hanna, also add some New Zealand level experience to Mitchell Langton’s team.
Also in Pool A, the University of Auckland (UA) will have plenty of international experience. Zachary Easthope returns to take the court for Coach Karl Noyer’s team, with his long-time running mate Lis Haraqia also named in the team.
The other team from Auckland, AUT, has some serious talent as well. Scott Telfer recently played for the Rangers in the Sal’s NBL, and Connor Woodbridge has been on the winners’ dais in the 3X3 Quest tour. Waikato University is the fourth team drawn in Pool A.
Over in Pool B, Lincoln University has made the final the last three years. The 2016 champs have a considerably different team since the championship year. Like Auckland’s Easthope, Josiah Williams, Ben Hall and Ihaia Kendrew have all recently arrived back from competing in Japan in the 3X3.EXE Premier League, and will be looking to keep a high-tempo pace to the games they play.
The University of Canterbury (UC) will feel confident too. They hoisted the trophy in 2017 when the tournament was last held in Christchurch. Zacc Dwan, Rohan Russo and Paul Stephenson all took the court for Piet Van Hasselt’s team last time. UC have a good blend of size and shooting that could easily see them do this again this year with Matt Mischewski and Stephenson also back from Japan, and both are deadly from behind the arc.
Massey University is somewhat of a dark horse, but former Junior Tall Black Matthew O’Connell will be expected to lead this team, which can draw players from both campuses. Victoria University is the fourth team that rounds out Pool B.
The women’s side of the tournament features a chance for Lincoln University (LU) to win their third consecutive title. Key components of the 2018 winning team are back again, with Canterbury Wildcats Ajiah Pepe and Connie Poletti joined in the LU team by Rosalia Samia and Lauyrn Hippolite this year. Long-time LU women’s coach Joshua Thompson will be assisting both the men’s and women’s teams this year, with Tyla Harrison-Hunt set for a very busy weekend as he takes the reigns for both teams.
Greg Brockbank’s University of Otago (OU) team seems to have the best chance to knock LU out in pool play. Tara Clement has moved down after competing for the Taranaki Thunder, while Jennifer O’Connell will be one of the tallest players to take the court for either competition. The rest of the OU team has been made up as a combination of players from their local club championship team, and their Varsity team. Massey and Waikato Universities will both compete in Pool A in the women’s competition.
Pool B will most likely have the two Auckland teams expected to make it out to the playoff rounds. Karl Noyer has a much more experienced UA team, with Breana Jones being back on the court for her academic institution. Tiarna Clarke has settled into life back in New Zealand, and after having up a solid WBC campaign with the Harbour Zephyr. Summer Jean Motofoua, who was a member of the victorious Auckland Dream this year, will also be a feature of the AUT team. Victoria University and the University of Canterbury make up the final two teams in Pool B.
SCHEDULE and LIVESTREAM
The first games of the tournament tip off at 8am Friday 20 September at Cowles Stadium in Christchurch. Both competitions are structured the exact same way: three pool games will be used to determine which two teams progress and play two other teams in the semi-final rounds (from 3pm on Friday 21 September); then the winners will play off for the grand trophy. The women’s Grand Final is scheduled to tip off at 1:15pm on Sunday 22 September, with the men’s final following this game at 3:00pm.
A short prize-giving ceremony will be held immediately after the men’s final concludes. After the basketball ceremony, the UTSNZ Overall Shield will be presented to the academic institution that has won the most points across all of the 2019 UTSNZ sporting events.
Entry is free for all spectators, and court one is scheduled to be livestreamed on the @UTSNZ Facebook page.
