Pacific Rim Champs ready to roll

Tauranga is gearing up for an influx of basketballers next week as the city prepares to play host for the first time to the annual Pacific Rim Championships.

Tauranga City Basketball General Manager, Mark Rogers said he was looking forward to an exciting long weekend of great basketball games, with over 100 teams registered to play.

“We are looking forward to showcasing a quality international basketball event in the world class new nine court ASB Arena,” said Mr. Rogers. 

“The tournament is just one element of the weekend though and the players, coaches and referees who attend will have the chance to take part in some amazing development opportunities from some very successful coaches and referees who are coming over to share their expertise.”

One of these is Hall of Fame coach Jim Foster who is the current Head Coach of division one university women’s team Tennessee. Foster has been part of the coaching staff of five gold medal teams and one bronze medal team for Basketball USA national teams and was assistant coach for the USA women’s Olympic team in Barcelona.

“We are very fortunate to have Jim here to lead the coach development sessions held on Easter Sunday and be part of the championship,” said Mr. Rogers.

“Jim will also be leading a two-day elite women’s camp for under 17 and under 19 players which follows the championship and is a fantastic opportunity for our top players to develop their game further.”

President of world association of basketball coaches, Patrick Hunt will also be heading down under for the championships. Hunt has been a FIBA scout identifying trends and styles of play at the 2006 and 2010 world champs and manager of national player and coach development for Basketball Australia.

“Patrick is a great supporter of our Pacific Rim Championships so we’re really looking forward to having him back again this year,” said Mr. Rogers.

“He will be leading the two-day elite boys camps for under 17 and under 19  players which, like the elite girls camp, follows the championship.”

FIBA educators and evaluators Ken Coulson from Basketball New Zealand and John Martin from Australia will also be leading development workshops throughout the weekend.

Basketball Pacific’s Easter tournament, the Pacific Rim Championships, is one of the biggest events on the basketball calendar and this year will see teams from not only across New Zealand travel to Tauranga to compete, but also Australia.

Basketball Pacific Director Mel Young said five teams where heading across the ditch to take part in the tournament. Four teams from the Australian Country Cup were coming to compete, boys and girls teams in the under 15 and under 17 section and an under 13 boys team from Manly. 

“New Zealand development teams have been making the trip over to Albury each January for more than 20 years now to compete against the state teams representing New South Wales, Victoria, South Australian and Tasmania,” said Mr. Young.

“So it’s great to have the opportunity to host their four teams who were named at the conclusion of the January event.”

“We are excited to have the Manly under 13 boys team also as they have a kiwi connection with the team being led by former Tall Black Haydn Smyth.”

Basketball Pacific is made up of Basketball New Zealand affiliated basketball Associations:  Counties Manukau, Te Tai Tokerau, Tauranga City, Waitakere City, Waikato, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Thames Valley who work together to provide development opportunity for players, coaches and referees.

The Pacific Rim Championships will be held 18-21 April at ASB Arena and Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre in Tauranga.