Wellington basketball player and forward for the Capital Swish, Bulou Marawa Elena Tuisue is playing a major role in the rise of women’s basketball while hosting her own community radio show. She not only has some big goals, but she’s doing tremendous work within the community to make it happen. “I’d love to see our Women Athletes being paid to play, that’s a huge dream of mine to see [because] we’ve got some incredible athletes and I think it’s only right that we see them being paid to play. I’d like to see a lot more exposure I think, a lot more support behind development when it comes to girls coming through.” This is something that was sparked from her own experience as she once was that young girl being introduced to the game. At the age of eight, Tuisue went along to watch a childhood friend trial in the Wellington U14 Girls Basketball team. New Zealand basketball stalwart Kenny McFadden saw Tuisue and asked her if she’d like to play. It was almost a no-brainer and despite not playing the game before, she relished the opportunity. “I didn’t even know [basketball] existed to be quite honest with you...because I played tennis, I ran track and I played netball. And those were the three main things that I did. I thought basketball was like a more intense netball. But I fell in love with it, I thought it was great, there’s a lot more contact and you can move with the ball” she says. This encounter with Kenny Mac as he’s known in basketball circles was the beginning of her longtime association with the game. Since then, she’s pursued many roles as a forward for the Capital Swish, as a referee and mentor for New Zealand’s young generation of basketball talent. The 29-year-old has played representative basketball for Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Porirua from the U14s-U23 age group. From here she began playing for the Hutt Valley Flyers Women’s Basketball team. This Labour weekend, she’ll be competing in one of Australasia’s biggest basketball tournaments - the Hoop Nation Classic in Mount Maunganui as part of Team Swoosh Women’s elite category. “I’m very honoured to be part of that team, we’ve got some of our New Zealand representatives in that team so I’m very excited.” Along with this, Tuisue is preparing for the much-anticipated Sals NBL 18in18 competition that commences in November. Though she hasn't had much time to train with the team, she says it will be interesting to see where everyone is at when they get back together. “I definitely think that New Zealand is stepping in the right direction when it comes to Women’s basketball. We’ve been waiting a long time for this. As someone that’s been playing in this league for a while and I’m sure others that have been a part of this league [will agree that], we’re starting to see some growth which is really nice.” When Tuisue isn’t playing, she’s finding other ways to stay connected and give back to the game she says has done so much for her. This year she had her first coaching experience taking a Junior College girls team on a successful run as they won their division. She says “I’ve always been a huge fan of teaching and I’ve had heaps of fun doing it.” Shadowing McFadden has also helped her with this. “The best person that I could think of to stand beside and pick his brain is Kenny. That’s why I ask him every time there’s a New Zealand Basketball Academy camp over the weekend or he’s got some early morning trainings, I just ask to stand there and ask him questions.” “I’m starting to see that Women’s Basketball is needing help with getting a lot more female players involved. I think they do such a great job of getting parents or some of the male coaches to hop in. But I think it brings a different element when we actually get a female player to come in and talk to some of the girls.” In addition, Tuisue has noticed a significant difference in the way that the young male and female players are developing. She says that with American players and coaches coming to New Zealand, the young boys benefit a lot more from their expertise than the girls which prevent the game from advancing at the same pace. That’s why she’s working with some Tall Ferns’ players and getting amongst different programs to help the women’s game reach its full potential, with so many passionate and gifted ballers around the country. “If you want to look at the very top of the top women in the country, I think that’s great but we all really need to remember that we have to support the girls that are coming through, the young ones, and the development. And how are our top players in the country going to contribute to the rest of the girls that are coming through the development stages. It’s really important that there’s a connection there because otherwise some of the young girls aren’t going to be able to see it firsthand and hear from these women.” As basketball is an important part of Tuisue’s life, embracing her Fijian culture also holds a special place. Tuisue is an Indigenous Fijian and has lived in New Zealand for over 20 years. But the pride and practice of her Fijian culture continue. Her mother is a fluent Fijian speaker and was brought up in the village. She has made it a priority to learn more about her Fijian heritage and the customs and obligations her mum experienced while back on the island. For Tuisue, it’s about acknowledging who she is as a person. Her Mum’s family has an organisation called Luvei Viti (Children of Fiji). Part of this is a community radio show that Tuisue hosts with her Mum every weekend. “You kind of try to find your identity as you grow up. It’s all about finding things about yourself and recently I thought it’s only right for me to learn the language and the culture. So this radio station that we have every Saturday, is basically me throwing myself in the deep end where I get to be with someone that’s very important to me. And we talk to the Fijian community about health and well-being.” Tuisue also takes a youth zone show where she teaches basic Fijian phrases and words. She feels that it’s important to have people who are making an effort to preserve the culture in a safe space without judgment which encourages others to do the same. “I think it’s really important for the next generation...for my generation right now to be able to pass on this knowledge to our children and to our grandchildren so that our culture lives on.” The show is evolving and her experience training in commercial radio out of High School has provided her with the knowledge to take care of the technical side of things. When asked why she is proud to be Fijian she says “I think the best way to put it is when our Sevens team won the gold medal. It was on the news how when they received their medals from a member of the Royal Family, they all knelt. So you wouldn’t stand up, they all knelt and it’s that kind of humble beginnings, that kind of sense of community. It’s quite a beautiful culture if you really learn about it which I’m sure every other culture out there is like. But there’s just something about it that makes me proud to be Fijian.” As the Executive Director of Luvei Viti, she is currently planning fundraisers and projects to get more information out and spread awareness of the Indigenous language. Away from the game and her work on the show, as well as her full-time job she loves music which she says she can’t live without. Especially chill instrumentals, Hip Hop, R & B, and Motown. And playing any Kendrick Lamar track is sure to get her going during training. Looking ahead, Tuisue spoke about her goals for the rest of 2020 saying “for my personal basketball journey, I’m trying to reshape myself as a player and become a totally different player than I was last season. I’m training every day and I’m just trying to breathe as well, take it one day at a time and remember to not get lost in all of the stuff that I’m involved with.” It’s going to be exciting to see how Tuisue goes not only on the court but also in her many awesome endeavors off it. She demonstrates amazing drive and commitment to serving the community and making meaningful progress while continuing to reach new heights in her own basketball career. And she has an inspiring message for the next generation: “if I was to say anything to the younger generation, basketballers, or non-basketballers, I would probably say be kind to yourself. Make sure you’re okay before you do anything. Work hard because it will make things easier down the track and don’t be afraid to do anything that you want to do. Just do it!” Luvei Viti Youth Zone show on: Wellington Access Radio 106.1 FM Photo Credit: Supplied by Bulou Marawa Elena Tuisue
0 Comments
Credit: NBL Twitter Finn Delany or Finn Diesel as Breakers fans like to call him for his high-tempo game, continues to be on the rise. If he's not getting buckets from the three-point line and posterizing his opponents, he's on the other side of the court grabbing steals and causing trouble for anyone who wants to get past him and score. The 24-year old recorded his first double-double of his NBL career against the Illawarra Hawks last Sunday, putting up 20 points and ten rebounds. And as we hail his fierce and emphatic growth as a player, we can't go without saying that Delany has worked tirelessly to get to a point where he is as confident as ever. We can go back to the summer of 2017 when Delany was playing in his first year of a full-time contract. In the last regular season game against Melbourne United, he burst onto the scene hammering dunk after dunk to score at the time, a career high 13 points and nine rebounds. He didn't need to have all the fancy moves because his impact on the game was far more significant than that. For many, that was the moment we knew he would be a special player. And as he has been compared to the legend Mika Vukona, yes the similarities are uncanny but Delany has combined the hustle and uncompromising mentality of one of his hometown heroes, as well as his own identity to now be one of the best power forwards in the league. Credit: Stuff.co.nz via Michael Dodge/Getty Images From a development player, to rookie to now a starter Delany has come a long way. Last season, he was being mentored by another Kiwi basketball legend - Kirk Penney who helped him during a period where he wasn't getting much game time. But persistence and the willingness to work has seen him go from strength to strength. It's this which allowed Delany to gain a bigger role within the Tall Blacks national team. When the 2018 offseason rolled around, Delany traveled to Serbia and played for FMP Belgrade and from here took part in the Dallas Mavericks mini-camp which he then secured a spot on their team for Summer League in Las Vegas. All of which has given Delany the knowledge, maturity and versatility that he is now demonstrating. for the Breakers. If you're watching him play, you'll notice that he never tries to force anything. When he was averaging no more than eight minutes in a series of games last year, he preached about how he believes that "everything that happens to me in life is my doing." He holds himself accountable and when things don't go right he's in the gym rearing to go. Maybe it's this which has allowed him to be the best version of himself. Credit: Stuff.co.nz Twitter Despite only returning from an ankle injury three games ago, Delany has settled right back into the squad and is in impressive form. As he continues to play, he'll only get better and with the chemistry he's built with his teammates anything is possible for Finn Delany. And if you haven't already, I urge you to search him up on Youtube or have a look on the NBL's social media platforms. He's always making the highlight reels with his speed and slams, one of them during the Hawks match-up after a smooth dime from RJ Hampton. (So if you haven't, do it I promise you won't regret it.)
He's also already shown glimpses of leadership and not only does he still have so much potential to unleash, but he's going to have a major contribution to the Breakers in the future. For some it may look like a meteoric rise from 2015 to now, but it definitely hasn't come easy. So when the Breakers go out to play tonight against the Cairns Taipans, they will continue to believe that they are still in the hunt for the playoffs and the championship. That's just the Breakers way and through it all, Finn Delany will be right there, making it a little easier as we watch on and are very lucky to witness his exciting journey. From the age of 15, SKY Sport Breakers highflyer Jarrad Weeks would spend lunch times at school finessing his dunk. One of two Australians on this year's Breakers roster, Weeks has made himself at home in New Zealand. But he's still not convinced that pavlova is a Kiwi delicacy. For a player that stands at 6'1, Weeks shows that he can hang with the big guys every time he steps onto the court. This goes back to when he was in high school, spending many of his school breaks running at the rim and trying to defy the laws of gravity. Now Weeks is one of the most explosive players in the league. As a kid, Weeks played AFL, Cricket and Rugby but basketball was always his true love. When he's not playing on a basketball court, he's usually up late watching the Ashes and says he loves all sports. Going into his second year with the Breakers he's become fully immersed in the New Zealand culture, recently visiting Rosmini College and Westlake Boys High School in Auckland and being welcomed with a Haka from students, "the pride and the heritage that New Zealand have is unbelievable. Just the way they teach it all the way through school, and it carries over into adulthood is awesome." But, "the fact that you steal pavlova from Australia, that's what I don't like about New Zealand culture." he says jokingly. The franchise is known for their family values and dedication to giving back to their community, one of the big reasons why Weeks loves it. The team recently visited the Auckland University of Technology's Open Day, shooting hoops with fans. Speaking from AUT, Weeks says "being in New Zealand's been great for my wife and I. It's a family-orientated club and everyone's very supportive." Over the offseason, the Breakers have assembled a squad with tremendous depth that will see them compete against world-class talent across the league. Weeks will be joined by Tall Blacks sharpshooter Corey Webster and imports Sek Henry, Scotty Hopson and RJ Hampton in the backcourt. As well as being part of this lethal backcourt, he will also be a mentor to youngsters Hampton and Terry Li.
Last year in preseason the Breakers played their first game against an NBA team - the Phoenix Suns, where late in the third quarter, Weeks opened the lane and soared for a world-class dunk. For many Breakers fans that was the introduction to the dynamic guard from Victoria. After falling short by only five points in last year's preseason NBA encounter, the Breakers will get another chance to get a win in America. This time against Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies. With a matchup against NBA legend Chris Paul, Weeks is ready to relish the moment. "Obviously [Chris has] dominated the NBA. He's probably going to be in the Hall of Fame sometime in the future so just to have the chance to go up against these guys, to show what level you can reach and the experience and the knowledge that they bring is going to be pretty exciting." The Breakers guard can't wait to get out there for what is set to be a spectacular NBL season. He says it's going to be an "entertainment package" with tickets to Breakers home games selling fast. As one of the most experienced guys on the team, Weeks will play an important role not only on the court but also in the locker room, the skillful guard has become part of the Breakers family and community. This season in pursuit of the Breakers fifth NBL championship, he'll be helping to carry on the Breakers winning tradition. The Tall Blacks have a personal barber, a podcast and the most relaxing music playlist. Carrying the Maori spirit, they live by the platitude “Tu Kaha.” They’re ranked 38th in the world, don’t have any NBA players like most teams at the FIBA World Cup but remain fearless, believing that they have everything they need. For everything that the Tall Blacks do and have done at this year’s World Cup there’s always a purpose behind it. From the Pounamu (Maori greenstone) that the players wear, to the jandals that they took with them to China in the Autumn season. Their purpose is set in their goal to “defend the land.” Currently playing in China at the World Cup, in the classification round after narrowly missing out on a chance to advance to the knockout stages, the Tall Blacks have won fans around the world through their determination to never back down from a challenge, putting up some courageous performances against top competition. A ten point victory against Montenegro, and two close losses to Brazil and Greece where they got just within six points against NBA MVP - Giannis Antetokounmpo, were tremendous accomplishments that not many people knew was coming. After losing veteran Mika Vukona and Reuben Te Rangi to injury, the Tall Blacks could’ve gone to the World Cup, with the intention of just playing for pride. But the tournament has laid a showcase for a Tall Blacks team who isn’t just playing for pride, but playing to win. This World Cup has shown just how much talent the Tall Blacks have. Its unleashed the World Wide Web in the walking bucket - Corey Webster once again. And it's unveiled the strong brotherhood that the team is united by. The Tall Blacks work with little, in the sense that they may not be the most talented, strongest or experienced team, but they have the most belief. In the Tall Blacks locker room, drawn at the top corner of their whiteboard which is used for writing plays and systems is the native bird of New Zealand, a kiwi reminding them of why they do what they do. The words “clap back” are also inscribed across the board, showing their motivation to fight back in tough game situations. So much pride and passion is represented in being a Tall Black and no matter how many games they’ve won when they come home, the Tall Blacks have done just enough for New Zealand to recognize that they are truly a special team.
While at the World Cup, Isaac Fotu, Finn Delaney and Ethan Rusbatch have created a podcast together called the Coffee Club where they discuss what it’s like being on the road and some of the things they go through as professional basketball players. And if anyone needs a haircut, Rusbatch is the go to guy. They’re a family team and that hasn’t been more evident than during their recent campaign. The humility they’ve shown and the effort they’ve put in has been incredible. And they haven’t slowed down, defeating Japan 111-81, and recording 18 three pointers with 55% from the ark. Webster also tops the statistics list for all players at the World Cup, and has been the most galvanizing scorer at the tournament. It’s been the amazing feats like this and the Tall Blacks positive attitude which has shown why they are a team on the rise, and why they will be in good hands going into the future. For the team it isn’t about what they have, or the support they’re getting. It’s much more than just basketball that they play for and as far as they know, they’ve got everything they need. If you're an NBL fan you'll know that the New Zealand Breakers are a storied franchise. Walk into their headquarters on Auckland's North Shore and you'll see that the walls are scenes of champions. But behind the name 'Breakers' is also a history of stories that have been both good and bad, but most importantly a story of adversity that has only made the Breakers successful. And that adversity couldn't be more evident than now with the team actually facing one of their most difficult times'. The 2019 Breakers are different and that's what people expected after a very busy off-season. A more up tempo, small ball game with kiwi influence at the point. And I think that as we've gotten to watch the Breakers so far we've come to know that they are an offensive team. It's more their forte and when you've got guys like Corey Webster and Patrick Richard on your team than it makes sense. But unfortunately for New Zealand it just hasn't worked out the way they have wanted. They've been able to create some big leads against contenders but have blown those leads within minutes, going down too early before we could even see what they were capable of. Most of the time it is defense that has been the difference. Because we all know that the Breakers have got the talent, the explosiveness and the ability to put up incredible numbers but maybe what they need is to be able to stay consistent in that. To get stops, force opponents to take contested shots and really be a forceful presence in the paint. These have been what have made the Breakers better in the past. Having the capability to be threats on either side of the ball. And with a 4-7 record after round seven, it's not too late. I know what you're thinking, in a league like the NBL and with the Perth Wildcats sitting comfortably at the top, it's definitely going to be a tough road, but just as they are a storied franchise, their story is still being written. The Breakers now have fourteen days to make a change. The FIBA International Qualifiers are here which means that the Breakers' Tall Blacks will be leaving the country during this period whilst Corey Webster who won't be attending along with the Breakers imports will get some valuable time to work on finding a solution to their recent decline. History doesn't just remind us but it shows us that there is hope for this Kiwi team. After going on a nine game win streak before last season's FIBA Window they lost four out of their first five matches, but still manged to secure a playoff spot and in mid-season 2016 the Breakers went on a five game losing streak which was the worst since their 2008/2009 season. Despite this they went on to win five consecutive games to clinch fourth place which eventually saw them face the Wildcats in the Finals. It seems that when the Breakers are down, they've always called upon their values and what they've always known to help them get through. Without these comebacks and these moments, the Breakers wouldn't be the same. Yes they've got things to work on like their defense and being able to stay composed when calls aren't going their way but maybe this is just all apart of their story this year.
Because what would a narrative be without the lows. The Breakers have been there and just from that, you know that at any time now something will come about. That winning mentality is part of them and surely they'll find a way to turn things around. So don't count them out just yet because the New Zealand Breakers are still writing their story. Mika Vukona of the New Zealand Breakers drives to the basket. With some tough losses to swallow, 2017 coming to a close and New Years Day just around the corner, the Breakers would've loved having a 9 day break, well probably not to eat leftovers from Christmas but to re-fresh their minds and mentally and physically get back to their 9-1 record form. During that break they went down to 3rd place in the NBL standings. They knew that the 9 days without playing any games would be a great way for them to bounce back and tackle the problems they had during a period which saw them lose 5 of 7 matches. But with all that in mind and the serious part of the season here, the Breakers took charge in their first match of 2018 and showed that when palms get sweaty, the ball is in your hands, and you somewhat feel as if the crowd is standing on top of you, they always manage to get the job done. They came out and dominated the Cairns Taipans with corner 3s, solid defense, and most importantly used a facet of why they are one of the top teams to their advantage - and that was being able to have multiple guys on the floor getting great shots up and not just relying on 1 or 2 players on offense or on defense. This showed with 4 players hitting double figures and a very hard decision choosing who was going to be the Ladbrokes Player of the Game. There were a few words that came to mind when describing how the Breakers looked and why the match against the Cairns Taipans was so important. Fresh and do or die, The Breakers looked like they were a whole new team compared to the one who last played the Adelaide 36ers, 3 days out from New Years and like we have come to realise, the NBL is such a tight league that any team could move up to 1st place and you wouldn't even know it. We were reminded of how close and good the league was last season when at one stage the Perth Wildcats were sitting at the bottom of the ladder and then ended up winning the championship. It was a do or die match because if the Breakers didn't win, it would've given Adelaide a great chance of overcoming them on the standings and would've left Illawarra on their backs. So there was a lot on the line. There was also something else that stuck with me after the match and that was the number 9. During an interview with sideline reporter - Kara Rickard, Tom Abercrombie spoke about how the 9 days off was actually great for the team. It made me also think about how the Breakers won 9 straight to start the season which then led me to wonder if 9 may be a lucky number for the Breakers. It also gave me the idea to talk about 9 reasons why the Breakers are still top 4 contenders.
Even though the Breakers are in the top 3, some may believe that it will be hard for them to stay there because of the quality of the league but here is what I think: 1: Versatility One reason I believe the Breakers are still top 4 contenders is because of their versatility. Like mentioned earlier, they don't have to rely on 1 or 2 guys to take the last shot or to get the team in front because every player is capable of contributing which means that when the Breakers take on other teams, they won't know who to guard. This will come very effective during this part of the season when everyone is vying to get a playoff spot. 2. Experience The Breakers are lucky to still have players who first started their careers with them still playing on the team to this day. They also have veterans of the game such as Mika Vukona and Kirk Penney as well as guys like Tom Abercrombie and Alex Pledger who have been to the Playoffs and Finals and have won championships. They have been able to experience the pressure, the liveliness and the challenges that come with playing in the postseason and so they know what it's like to get over that hump and win games. Their star imports - Edgar Sosa and DJ Newbill have also experienced winning titles with their former clubs around Europe too. 3. Early days It is still early in the playoff hunt, anything can change just like that. So though the Breakers may not be in the place they want to be in to get home advantage during the playoffs, there is still 10 games to play. They are also equal with Perth and Melbourne, having played 18 games, won 12 and lost 6. But of course it is the percentages that push them to third. 4. Best is still yet to come The Breakers played incredible against the Taipans and after the match the crowd was buzzing. They looked like they were playing some of their best basketball. But I believe that their best is still yet to come. They always step their game up when it comes to the playoffs so do expect some exciting hoops to come. 5. Chip on their shoulder Being the only team from New Zealand, the Breakers are the underdogs and carry a chip on their shoulder. They love the fact that they have to fight that bit harder and that 'underdog' status actually fuels them and it's that extra motivation for them to play better and prove others wrong especially our Aussie rivals. 6. Motivation to redeem themselves Last year, the Breakers just missed out on making the playoffs, finishing in 5th place. It was also Coach Paul Henare's first season coaching. This year the Breakers have a chance to redeem themselves and add another championship to the franchises' 4 already. They'll have that in the back of their minds and will really want to push to go further this time around. 7. Carrying on the winning mentality The New Zealand Breakers are known for their winning mentality. Since coming into the league in 2003, they have won 4 championships out of 5 Grand Final appearances and have been to the Playoffs 7 times. There's no doubt that they'll be wanting to keep the winning going as well as carrying on the legacy of their owners - Liz and Paul Blackwell who helped to instill the family and winning culture and announced that they will not be majority owners after this season. 8. Flying under the radar Because the Breakers may not get talked about as much as other teams, this means that they are able to hide their secret weapons and may come out in a game doing something unexpectedly. So they aren't exposed as much which means they may feel more comfortable playing and can play better especially going into the playoffs. 9. Late Christmas present The Breakers just confirmed that they have signed former Indiana Pacer - Rakeem Christmas for the second half of the season. Christmas looks sure to bring some athleticism and power in the front court and will be a great asset for the team during this postseason push. The New Zealand Breakers are one team and show that every time they step foot on the hardwood. Locked away in the heart of New Zealand Basketball. At the scene of inspiration for so many kiwi hoops dreams in all its glory and lustre, stands a token of eminence. 4 trophy's, 4 championships, 5 Grand Final Appearances and 7 Playoff runs. It's no wonder why the New Zealand Breakers have been one of the best teams in the NBL over the past decade. But being a champion team, furnished with legends of the game and incredible talent, can breed for egos. But not for the Breakers. You see, whilst some athletes would say the recipe for greatness is having a big ego, the Breakers would say the recipe for greatness is One Team + Courage + Integrity. And while there are countless sporting superstars who get seized in self-indulgence, using their egos as a source of power or self confidence to elevate them to the next level of stardom, - it just doesn't sit right with the Breakers. The kiwi franchise currently sit comfortably at the top of the NBL ladder with 8 straight meat pies to tip off the season. The team has never looked better. This is their best start to a season and if they can carry on this success which looks promising, they will be well on their way to breaking the club's longest winning streak of 15 games back in March of 2013. The year in which they completed their illustrious 3-peat. The New Zealand Breakers have been able to gel together really well and look fantastic in just 9 matches. New star import - DJ Newbill was asked what has been the key to them winning and he explained: "There are no egos in our locker room. Everybody's here to just come together and try to win. When you have a team like that where everybody's so unselfish and there are so many different weapons, we're a dangerous team." It's something that hasn't gone unnoticed in these opening matches and it's definitely something that makes this team special. From the captain - Mika Vukona who played his 4ooth NBL game in Sunday's win over the Perth Wildcats and is arguably one of New Zealand's best ball players. He is also a 5-time champion and captains the national side - the Tall Blacks. But despite his almost royal-like status among New Zealand fans, he wears a humble persona and just never backs down, especially when it's for his team. During the 2011 Playoffs, the Breakers went up against the Perth Wildcats in game 1 of the semifinals series and lost 101-78. Vukona sustained a grade 2 medial ligament strain early in the game and the doctors told him he was going to be out for 2-3 weeks. But in typical Vukona-style, Mika was not going to take any of it and instead defied all odds and suited up for game 2 even in extreme pain. He led the Breakers to victory and I guess you can say the rest is history. The New Zealand Breakers huddle up during a match against the Sydney Kings. Having a leader as level-headed and selfless as Mika is something that not many sports teams can say they have but it's just amazing to see. 2 other players who could've easily came in and took control, taking an "I'm in charge" approach is Edgar Sosa and DJ Newbill. Sosa joined the Breakers after winning 3 championships in his last 3 seasons with clubs in Italy, Iran and Lebanon. Newbill also came off a championship, helping the Telenet Oostende win the Belgian League. But these now 2 NBL stars, came into the league with a mindset of being team players and let the game come to them. Head Coach - Paul Henare had nothing but kind words to say about the pair after exceptional contributions from them both: "They didn't come in and try and exert their presence on the group, they took time to learn about their teammates, learn about our system, how we play, how we defend (and) about the competition." And Sosa and Newbill have shown that the Breakers don't need to have the most flamboyant and exciting players, but they just have to be able to work cohesively, contribute every night and have each others back. The Breakers also have an important aspect of their recruiting process that aids them in their success as well. They always look at character before skill and with the imports they've had over the years, they certainly reflect that. When you are able to have players like Mika, Edgar and DJ who are undeniably great at what they do and have the accolades to back it up, but still treat everyone in the team with the same amount of respect - it just makes the team a whole lot better. You could easily name other tremendous players such as Kirk Penney, Tom Abercrombie and Shea Ili and basically everyone who is apart of the Breakers who treat everyone equally. The Breakers epitomize one of their mottos - Together, stronger. Because just like Newbill said, there is no sign of egos, no braggadocio or any thought of "I'm better than you." And this allows for youngsters - Shea Ili and Finn Delaney to have the confidence that they can be awesome players which they have displayed this season. Two of those moments was when Ili scored a career-high 23 points against the Brisbane Bullets and just on Sunday when he shot the winning goal in the clutch. Leading to many predicting that he will take out the Most Improved Player Award which I agree he will.
But I bet the Breakers won't be looking too much into the future, and will be wanting to take it one game at a time, maintaining their remarkable streak and as Coach Paul Henare says - staying in the blue collar zone of not being too happy when they win and not being too down when they lose. And you've got to have this unbelievable amount of pride when the Breakers are number 1, have won 8 straight and have proved those who said they were going to finish with the wooden spoon wrong. The Breakers have shown that you don't have to be the starter, you don't always need the ball in your hands in crunch time and you don't always have to score the most points to be respected. But all you need is a squad that is willing to share the wins, highlights, and triumph and also support each other and take ownership when there's losses, and when you are faced with adversity. American Martial Artist - Ed Parker once said: "the humble man makes room for progress; the proud man believes he is already there. I think we can all agree on which man the Breakers personify. Breakers beat favourites, Melbourne United in Melbourne and take their place in 2nd on the ladder22/10/2017 Tom Abercrombie of the New Zealand Breakers smashes a dunk against Melbourne United and is pumped up. Where did the New Zealand Breakers come from? That was a question that many pundits, and teams around the NBL were left asking themselves when the Breakers upset the favourites to win the title - Melbourne United in their home opener. It was a sell out crowd at Hisense Arena, the fans were booming, the intensity was right up there and what was a round 3 match-up felt as if it was the first round of the playoffs. The Breakers play was refined and the chemistry was clearly there. Coming into the game, the Breakers had won the last 8 of 9 encounters against Melbourne and they knew it was going to be extremely tough to beat United, with the star-studded roster they have and their championship winning Coach in Dean Vickerman who led the Breakers to a title in 2015. Around the league the Breakers have not been touted as contenders but today they made a statement and showed that they are coming. The match began with strong play from both sides and physicality was the key. It was a close ball game in the first half but the Breakers dominated in the sense that they were working as a team and going hard at both the offensive and defensive glasses. Although the score was near equal, it was the Breakers who took advantage of United's missed opportunities as the home-team weren't able to capitalize, throwing the ball away and getting caught in the Breakers defensive pressure, with Rob Loe, Mika Vukona, Tom Abercrombie, Shea Ili and DJ Newbill all getting steals. The first half ended with a bit of tussle between Tai Wesley and Edgar Sosa when Wesley wanted a foul call and got frustrated, shoving Sosa on his way back to the bench. But the Breakers were able to go into the break with a 2 point lead but still needed to keep composure and not get complacent as Melbourne are very dangerous and could easily climb their way back in. Tom Abercrombie scored a team high of 21 points and made huge 3 pointers when it really mattered. The second half showcased more of a dominant display from the visitors as they got out to a big lead. Abercrombie was keeping the crowd silent by hitting back to back 3s in the first few minutes of the 3rd quarter. It wasn't until late in the 3rd when Melbourne began to get some buckets. The Breakers held stars - Chris Goulding and Casper Ware to limited points with Goulding scoring 7 and Ware scoring 6. But it was former NBA player - Josh Boone who was leading United with a 22 point game. Casey Prather still had a good night from the field with 20 points. The exposure and international experience of Breakers point guard - Shea Ili was evident throughout the game. He played tremendous basketball and showed confidence in his abilities, connecting with fellow Tall Black - Finn Delany. Every match this season he has grown and it sure looks like he has so much more to give which is a bonus for the Breakers. In the end it was an awesome win for the New Zealand Breakers who won 88-76 and proved many wrong and on the day were a much better team than Melbourne United. It was definitely an inspiring win and one that hopefully Kirk Penney will be proud of as he was unable to play, due to the sad news of his Father's passing. United will be looking to get back on the board when they play the Brisbane Bullets next Saturday. The Breakers will also play the Bullets on Thursday. Team Leaders
Melbourne New Zealand
Total Rebounds 44 38 Assists 17 17 Steals 3 7 Turnovers 17 9 Points from turnovers 8 12 Fast break points 11 11 Second chance points 9 7 Bench points 12 21 2 point percentage 53% 51% 3 point percentage 24% 31% Free throw percentage 73% 60% Field goals 42/89 49/89 2 pointers made 22/41 23/45 3 pointers made 6/25 8/24 Free throws made 14/19 18/30 Kirk Penney scored a game-high 25 points to contribute to the Breaker's win over the Kings. The Sydney Kings and New Zealand Breakers, both coming off losses in their first encounters of the season began their second clash with a fresh approach, playing more aggressively, showing offensive prowess and having that desire to win. Coming into this match the Breakers needed to have some offensive power not only with the players on the court but also gaining some points from the bench and they did just that in tonight's epic match. Sydney's Perry Ellis scored the first points of the game and it was evident early on that the Breakers physicality, particularly with Mika Vukona was going to get them in some trouble as they tried to stay out of foul concern. The Breakers accumulated 3 fouls in a minute and 55 seconds and their foul concern soon turned into amazing shooting. Travis Leslie played tremendously for the Kings, having great confidence and shooting some really good shots. A highlight was when he smashed an incredible dunk and it definitely gave his team momentum. Alex Pledger was doing the goods in the first quarter helping to lift the Breakers but the Kings kept on giving it to the home side and led for the entire quarter. After the break, the Breakers found their mojo and it was Kirk Penney, Shea Ili and DJ Newbill who were creating plays and getting points on the board. Penny was on fire scoring 3 pointer after 3 pointer. There was also great defensive rebounding from the Breakers which helped them to stretch out to a big lead. Because they were doing so well, Head Coach - Paul Henare decided to bring on some young talent with Shea Ili, Finn Delany and Jordan Ngatai all playing at the same time with Ili getting some extended minutes, giving Edgar Sosa a rest. Ili made an impact with his exceptional facilitating and ball movement and actually ended the match with a career-high of 14 points. The Kings fought right until the end and their Coach - Andrew Gaze said that they needed to come out with more urgency and pressure on defense in the second half as they let the Breakers out to a 13 point lead - 54-41 before halftime. Newbill carried on playing aggressively into the second half and although the Breakers did look consistent the Kings were climbing their way back into the game as Todd Blanchfield who finished the game with 15 points and Kevin Lisch also with 15, both pulled their weight and got their team back on track. It led to a timeout called by Henare who watched the 13 point lead vanish before his eyes, Blanchfield performed a monstrous block on Rob Loe and it was a sign that the visitors weren't giving up. The third quarter saw the Breakers lead by 6 points - 69-63 and we knew it was going to be an intense final 10 minutes. It was tit for tat in relation to points in the fourth quarter and we didn't have a clue who was going to come out victorious. Newbill got to 20 points and he had a fantastic game. Mika Vukona was fouled out but there was no need to worry because the Breakers had it all under control. And with just 3 seconds left of the match, it was tied up 85 all. Overtime sounded likely but who knew it was going to be DJ Newbill taking the last shot to win the game? He took his time, and shot a beautiful lay-up to win the game. He finished the match with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Sideline Reporter - Te Arahi Maipi had a talk with Newbill after the game and he spoke about what was going on during the last shot. He said: "Coach dribble play, he initially wanted me to go right, but I told him Coach I'm going left because KP (Kirk Penney) is in the left side corner, they can't hop off him, he scored 25 points today off 3s so I'm just gonna take it left and try to get fouled." It was the type of basketball we knew the Breakers could play and hopefully they can carry their success on throughout the season. They also improved their bench points significantly from Sunday's game against Cairns from 13 to 27. Breakers Kings
Total Rebounds 37 31 Assists 10 18 Steals 5 2 Turnovers 9 12 Points off turnovers 9 8 Fast break points 2 5 Second chance points 20 11 Bench points 27 6 2 point percentage 50% 51% 3 point percentage 38% 44% Free throw percentage 71% 80% Field goals made 51/93 49/81 Melbourne United will have a lot to prove in the 40th season of the NBL. Every year, NBL fans prepare for another sensational season of basketball jam-packed with magnificent plays, captivating contests, all the panache, spirit, glory and conquest that the game never fails to produce. And every year as the thought of getting to treasure another hoop of gold wrapped around your finger confirming that you are a champion, experts put forth their predictions for which team they think will win make the playoffs or win the championship. Every year that team is Melbourne United. But over the past 3 seasons since the club changed from the Melbourne Tigers, they have not been able to live up to the stardom that surrounds them. They have had arguably the best rosters on paper with players like Chris Goulding, David Andersen, Todd Blanchfield, Casper Ware and Cedric Jackson and also a former NBA Assistant Coach in Dean Demopoulos all of whom could not take the team to the promised land and now United have signed 2-time NBL champion Casey Prather who we all know is a box office player who will play a huge role throughout this season and to me he is one of the best players in the NBL. Chris Goulding will be a key to his teams success. But the question that I have for the Melbourne United, is can they put what's on paper, on the court? Can they make a run and win the championship? They have now got a legendary Coach in Dean Vickerman who coached the Breakers to a title in 2015 and was apart of the Breakers success in previous years. But time can only tell and there are other teams such as the Perth Wildcats who will be dangerous opponents when the season commences. But I'm not here to try and downplay the type of team the Melbourne United are, because they do look threatening but what I am trying to do is find out if they are ready to prove that they are as good as we all believe and if they are ready to play at a level where champions do. It's going to be incredibly exciting to watch this season and if Melbourne can stay healthy and be consistent, than there's no reason why they won't make the playoffs. They have got a great warm-up to the season with what will be an amazing game to watch as they go up against the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. Going up against the best players in the world with Russell Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony all on OKC. Casper War was a standout last year and is expected to be even better this season. And if that's not enough to motivate them than I don't know what will. But what I do know is that United have to prove that they're worth every good word they get coming into a season, and we'll be waiting, anticipating a sterling season to see if they can do it, if they can live up to all the hype.
|
|