Just last week there was an article on Stuff.co.nz that talked about the tremendous growth of basketball in this country.
Statistics show that basketball is the fourth most popular sport in New Zealand Secondary Schools, as at the end of 2016 with about 23,180 students playing the game. It also showed that there was a 27% growth rate between 2011-2016. These were incredible findings as more and more youth decide to take up basketball despite rugby being our national game.
It’s very exciting for the future of basketball in New Zealand. As the sport continues to grow at Sancta Maria College, there is a corresponding wave of success from our players. Most recently through one of the Year 7 & 8 teams who placed 1st in their C grade during an Eastern Zone Competition held at Mission Heights Junior College. They brought home with them medals and certificates that they will cherish for a very long time.
The victorious team was made up of players – Ethan Siao, Jako Nito, Daniel-John West, Kiran Harry, Johann Guadalupe, Louis Magallanes, Jodak Lopez and Matt Lopez. The team’s power forward and utility player Ethan Siao, who is a year 8 student, talked about the team culture. When asked about why he thought his team was so successful he said, “We worked as a team and we communicated on the court.”
That chemistry proved to be a key component throughout the tournament as the team beat all their opponents. Firstly getting the chance to go head to head with their mates – the Sancta Maria Patriots and then playing against 3 Mission Heights teams.
The boys played like they had been together for years but it was surprising to hear from Ethan that they had only been together since term 1 trials. They form quite a special group with a remarkable coach in Johann’s Dad – Mr Guadalupe, who also contributed to their triumph.
Ethan said that he was stoked for his team saying, “I was proud of the team, that we all worked together and played a crucial role in the game.”
The boys’ families were at the competition to cheer them on and for many of the players basketball runs in their blood including Ethan whose younger brother recently won his division for Year 3 & 4.
Overall what the boys accomplished was something to remember and something to be hugely proud of. New Zealand Basketball definitely has a bright future and it doesn’t look as if the boys are stopping any time soon as they are right back into playing, currently competing in the C grade in pool 2 of their competition. So expect more fabulous news from this young and ambitious line-up.
Shontelle Matano
