The New Zealand U16 Women’s team are now in Amman, Jordan, ahead of the U16 Women’s Asian Championships from 10-16 July. New Zealand are one of nine teams competing for the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship title, along with Australia, Samoa, China, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Syria.
New Zealand will open their campaign on day two of the tournament against Japan, before playing a further two pool games – against Group B opponents Samoa and China – over four days at the Prince Hamza Hall, Sports City Amman. If they can finish top two of their pool, they will advance to the semi-finals on day six.
Head coach Mel Bennett says that the late withdrawal of India – who the U16 women’s team were originally scheduled to play on opening day – forced New Zealand to change their strategy.
“It changed the dynamic of how our pre-departure camp looked; our initial plan to face India in the opening game has obviously changed and now we have to prepare for Japan instead,” says Bennett.
“They play a much more aggressive up-and-in style defensively, so we had to go more game like in our training sessions to get the team prepared. With it being a straight semi-final crossover we need to make the top two in our Pool – so we have to hit the ground running in Jordan.”
The New Zealand squad features seven players from the U15 Girl’s National Team that earned silver at the U15 Oceania Champs in Guam last November.
“We have added players that can combine point guard and shooting guard roles, as we require players that can absorb pressure. We struggled at times last year and when you play the likes of Japan, China and Australia you have to be able to look after the ball,” said Bennett.
“This year we have four players who can all bring the ball up, have good vision, can communicate and defend”, she added.
One of those is co-captain Pahlyss Hokianga, who was named in the All-Star Five team at the Oceania Champs last year after leading New Zealand in points (15.8), assists (5.2) and steals (4.8).
“Pahlyss is a very balanced player with a high basketball IQ,’” said Bennett.
“She can read the coverage on screens, she can get into the paint , recognise mis-matches and has good range on her shot. It’s very unusual to find someone of her age who can do what she does.”
The Hawkes Bay guard has recently relocated to Tauranga to link up with Coach Bennett and the Whai ahead of Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa 2023 – but more pressing are her responsibilities as co-captain of the national U16 team, a role she is honoured to have been given.
“My job is to support the team, encourage them and to be a leader on and off the court. It’s very different to playing in New Zealand; the standard is higher with the teams are a lot tougher and the game is more structured, but we’re up for the challenge,” says Hokianga.
Those sentiments were echoed by fellow co-captain Bailey Flavell, who averaged 12.4 points per game at last year’s Oceania Champs.
“Leading by example on and off the court will be my main aim. We saw what the level was at last year, especially with the Australian team, and it showed where we need to be better in terms of speed, intensity and all aspects of our game,” says Flavell.
Flavell is not unfamiliar with the Australian style of play. She spent her first three years of high school in Melbourne and believes her play has benefitted from that experience.
“It opened my game to different levels and styles of play, and the more intensive competition that you experience in Australia.”
The North Harbour combo-guard doesn’t have far to go if she ever needs some expert advice. Her dad is Canterbury Rams Head Coach and former Tall Black Judd Flavell, who was a member of that famous Tall Blacks team who finished fourth at the 2002 FIBA World Championship in Indianapolis.
Jennifer Mailei is amongst the five new additions that Head Coach Mel Bennett has picked, with much interest centering around the selection of the 186cm forward who played for Samoa at last year’s Oceania Champs – where she posted 17 points and 11 rebounds in the pool game against New Zealand.
Despite being born and raised in Australia, Mailei has whakapapa to New Zealand which allowed her to be re-classified to represent New Zealand.
“Mum was born in Huntly, my dad is from Porirua and I qualified to play for Samoa because that’s where my dad’s parents were born. I wanted to give my mum’s side’s culture a try, so that’s how I’ve come to be playing for New Zealand,” explained Mailei.
Mailei has a couple of major goals heading into her second FIBA Tournament.
“The main objectives are as a team to make the top four and on a personal level to make my family proud as I have a lot of family that will be watching the games on livestream. On court I like to think I’m determined, can make the team better, rebound strongly and I aim to be a dominating presence in the key.”
Coach Bennett is delighted to have been able to select the 185cm forward.
“She adds another dimension to our roster and will be key for us. She has great post footwork and can finish around the rim under pressure. She has also been stretching her skillset working on her perimeter scoring game.”
The Asian Champs serves as a qualifier event for the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, with the top four teams heading to Mexico in July 2024. Meanwhile three teams (the last two ranked teams from Asia and the last ranked team from Oceania) will be relegated to Division B at the completion of this tournament.
FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championships – NZ Draw
11 July – NZL vs JPN, 1pm local time / 10.00pm NZT. Watch here.
12 July – Sam vs NZL, 3.30pm local time / 00.30am NZT. Watch here.
14 July – NZL vs CHN, 1pm local time / 10.00pm NZT. Watch here.
FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship Squad – NZ
Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna, Rotorua Basketball Association
Rica-Chanel Enriquez-Paea, NZ
Bailey Flavell, Harbour Basketball
Sophia Hickey, NZ
Keriana Hippolite, NZ
Pahlyss Hokianga, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Jennifer Mailei, NZ
Anaiya Nelson, Waikato Basketball
Graecyn Parahi, Basketball Hawkes Bay
Hana Paterson, Waikato Basketball
Emma Rogers, Tauranga City Basketball
Cassidy Thomson, NZ
