The Cook Islands Basketball Federation announced a 18-name preliminary squad for the upcoming South Pacific Games which will be held in Samoa at the end of August. The team features three NZ-born players, Taratoa and William Metuariki and Daniel Rolls, but also some experienced players like Cecil Heather and Steven Nookura.
The Cook Islands Basketball Federation announced a 18-name preliminary squad for the upcoming South Pacific Games which will be held in Samoa at the end of August. The team features three NZ-born players, Taratoa and William Metuariki and Daniel Rolls, but also some experienced players like Cecil Heather and Steven Nookura. All the players are holding a NZ passport but they are of course elligible to play under the Cook's flag.
Cook Islands extended squad - SPG 2007: Shihan Aue Pi David Clifford Atuatika Taria Atuatika Tingika Elikana Jared-John Engu John Engu Cecil Heather Anthony Ikimotu Bates Manea Taratoa Metuariki William Metuariki Steven Nookura Ngatokotoru Puna Daniel Rolls Evan Teiti Peter Teiti Strickland Upu
The open Men's final saw the only representation of a Teauotonga team. With all the Vaka pressure on their shoulders the Teauotonga men's team were determined not to let their Vaka down and came out firing. Although Puaikura were the younger of the two teams, Teauotong used their experience and pulled away to an early lead that the Puaikura men could just not claw back.
The open Men's final saw the only representation of a Teauotonga team. With all the Vaka pressure on their shoulders the Teauotonga men's team were determined not to let their Vaka down and came out firing. Although Puaikura were the younger of the two teams, Teauotong used their experience and pulled away to an early lead that the Puaikura men could just not claw back. Teauotonga eventual winners 75-49. Top scorers were Steven for Puaikura and Peter for Teauotonga.
The U20 Boys finals started well for Takitumu as they took the lead early when they received 6 points head start when the Puaikura team did not take the court on time. But by half time Puaikura had done some hard yards and were up by two points. It was point for point for the rest of the game with the Takitumu boys giving it everything they had but Puaikura were eventual winners 27-26.
The U20 Boys finals started well for Takitumu as they took the lead early when they received 6 points head start when the Puaikura team did not take the court on time. But by half time Puaikura had done some hard yards and were up by two points. It was point for point for the rest of the game with the Takitumu boys giving it everything they had but Puaikura were eventual winners 27-26. Top scorers were Jared for Takitumu and Taratoa for Puaikura.
The Cook Islands Men's Youth Development team will head to NZ at the end of the year for a series of games against some of the best teams in the region. As part of their fund raising for their trip, they held a Movie Fundraiser at the Empire Theater.
The Cook Islands Men's Youth Development team will head to NZ at the end of the year for a series of games against some of the best teams in the region. As part of their fund raising for their trip, they held a Movie Fundraiser at the Empire Theater. It was a fabulous turn out to watch the new basketball movie "Glory Road" and nobody went home hungry with plates of food, hot drinks and cakes also selling well on the night. The team, coach, manager and CIBF would like to thank Harry Napa and his staff for allowing the fund raiser to go ahead. They would also like to extend thanks to Tangee for the generous donation towards the food stalls.
The Kaitaia youth Men's and Woman's basketball teams recently visited the shores of Rarotonga. The 2 teams along with coaches, managers, a referee and supporters all made the most of their week long stay. Source: FIBA Oceania
While on Rarotonga they played a 3 match series against an invitational Woman's team coached by Danny Williams and CI's Men's Youth Development Team coached by Nga Puna.
The Kaitaia youth Men's and Woman's basketball teams recently visited the shores of Rarotonga. The 2 teams along with coaches, managers, a referee and supporters all made the most of their week long stay. Source: FIBA Oceania
While on Rarotonga they played a 3 match series against an invitational Woman's team coached by Danny Williams and CI's Men's Youth Development Team coached by Nga Puna. This was great timing for the CI men's Development team who used the games as preperation for their up coming trip to Auckland. The Kaitaia woman's team ended up series winners with 2 wins and 1 loss and the Cook Islands Men won the men's series also with 2 wins and 1 loss. The games were fantastic for the local players as it gave them the opportunity to measure themselves against the more experienced NZ players. Also in the Kaitaia delegation was Mata Cameron, mother of Pero Cameron of the Tall Blacks. Mata and the gang held coaching sessions all week at the local colleges and a high performance session on the Tuesday night. With such knowledge and experience it was great for our local coaches to be involved in such high quality sessions. Any other basketball teams that may be thinking about having a holiday and playing some games at the same time are most welcome to contact the Cook Islands Basketball Federation through the contact link and the CIBF will orgainise everything for you.
Three years to go before the South Pacific Mini-Games in the Cook Islands
The South Pacific Games Council made a reunion in Samoa, one year before the South Pacific Games in Apia, and they spoke about the organization of the 2009 Mini-Games in the Cook Islands. All the lights are green so far and the council is confident about this event.
"The Cook Islands already held the Mini-Games in 1985 so they are experienced.
The South Pacific Games Council made a reunion in Samoa, one year before the South Pacific Games in Apia, and they spoke about the organization of the 2009 Mini-Games in the Cook Islands. All the lights are green so far and the council is confident about this event.
"The Cook Islands already held the Mini-Games in 1985 so they are experienced. The organizing comittee is really good and the Mini-Games should be a great event there." said one of the member of the council.
Playing basketball is not that easy in such a small country as the Cook Islands, everybody should be more involved and dedicated just for the love of this sport. The CIBF helped out local school while the FIBA Oceania donated balls for the kids.
Playing basketball is not that easy in such a small country as the Cook Islands, everybody should be more involved and dedicated just for the love of this sport. The CIBF helped out local school while the FIBA Oceania donated balls for the kids.
Upon receiving a distress call from one to the Local Colleges, The Cook Islands Basketball Federation was more than happy to help out by repairing their basketball rings and nets. Tereora College is the Cook Islands biggest School, it has a large number of students that come over from the outer islands to finish off their education. So when the call came in that their basketball rings and nets needed urgent repairs, CIBF were quick to react sending a representative over that same afternoon to do the repairs.
FIBA Oceania has gifted 30 size 5 and 25 size 6 basketballs to help with the development of junior basketball in the Cook Islands. "After starting up the Mini/Youth Basketball programme late last year is was obvious that we were going to need more resources. Fortunately for us FIBA Oceania came to the party with the free basketballs." said CIBF president Liz Sosene Receiving the basketballs has enabled the CIBF to expand its Mini/Youth Basketball programme.
It was clear from the start that Saville's coach Danny Williams was not going to give the more experienced Proactive team an inch to move. Normally the Saville team would fall into a Zone defence and let the opposition players come to them but come finals night it was a different game.
It was clear from the start that Saville's coach Danny Williams was not going to give the more experienced Proactive team an inch to move. Normally the Saville team would fall into a Zone defence and let the opposition players come to them but come finals night it was a different game. The Saville team played most of the game in a full court man to man defence which at times made the Proactive team make mistakes that they wouldn't normally make. In the end the pressure defence got to them and they turned over the ball too many times with Saville capitalizing on the turn overs with scoring baskets. But in saying all that, the Proactive team did not go down without a very good fight. They made sure that all their big gun players were in attendance on the final night. But the night belonged to the young Saville team, with an average age of just 15 it will be worth your time keeping an eye on their progress.
Friends Men take out 2006 Elite Comp The men's final of the 2006 Elite comp saw 3 time champions Friends take on the young guns And2. With so many young players on the court we thought we were going to see a running game, but both sides decided to pass the ball around more and wait for the right scoring opportunities. The Friends team had plenty of big boys on the inside, so And2 were forced to try and shoot the ball from the perimeter. Having coach/player Nga Puna on the bench due to illness proved profitable for the Friends team in the end as he was able to give good direction to his team. At half time Friends were only up by 3 points, but in the 2nd half the Friends team with the help of Charlie and Peter were able to outscore And2 21 -13.
(Courtesy of oceaniasport)
NZ Coach set to improve basketball in Cook Islands
The Cook Islands men's basketball team has a new coach this season. Danny Williams started coaching the men's team this month as well as helping coach the women's team. Williams has been in Rarotonga since November last year after taking up the position of assistant manager at the CITC Mainstore.
The Cook Islands men's basketball team has a new coach this season. Danny Williams started coaching the men's team this month as well as helping coach the women's team. Williams has been in Rarotonga since November last year after taking up the position of assistant manager at the CITC Mainstore. This is the first time Williams has lived in the Cook Islands but he visited three years ago for a family reunion. His family arrive from New Zealand to join him this week. Williams says he joined the New Year one-day basketball tournament and played in the local competitions and has enjoyed it to date. It was through this experience he was offered the position of coach. He says he is passionate about the sport and has played basketball since he was at college in New Zealand. In 1985 Williams was named New Zealand's most outstanding basketball point guard. He has played provincial first division basketball for the Nelson Giants, Waitakere Rangers, North Harbour and the Auckland Stars. He says he played 10 years of first division basketball followed by four years in the second division. Williams took up coaching while living in Hamilton, helping the Waikato under 14s team take out two championships in recent years. Williams says to date there has been an excellent turnout by the players for the training sessions held twice a week. He says as a coach he is keen to focus on the younger players and has already seen some very good untapped talent. Williams says there is one 17-year-old boy who has a lot of potential and reminds him of New Zealand star player Pero Cameron. He says there is also a 13-year- old girl who is playing very well for her age. "She could be great," says Williams. He says there is so much talent that some players will be able to go overseas and do well if they get the right coaching now. He says he is also interested in getting mini-basketball going for those under the age of 10-years-old to provide them with progressive experience in the sport. . Williams acknowledges his own basketball coach from his younger years and former Waikato Titans coach Ken Strother as having a big influence on his decision to get into coaching. Williams says a big plus with Pacific islanders is their sporting physique and their enthusiasm for sport. Williams says he is trying to improve the players' knowledge of the mental part of the game and is already seeing great improvements during training. "I think people will see a different team come June," says Williams about the build up to the Pacific Rim tournament in Rarotonga. Williams says he is working well with his assistant Ezra Howe. As a former member of the Melbourne Tigers, Williams believes Howe has very good knowledge of the game. He says he is happy to be working with the current Cook Islands Basketball Federation executive because their hearts and interests are in the right place when it comes to the sport. "I think we will compliment each other in taking the game to the next level," he says
