Tickets have just started being sold for the first international basketball to be hosted in canterbury in over a decade. Schools are able to contact us via competitions@canterburybasketball.co.nz in order to gain free tickets, thanks to the support of the Mainland Foundation, for up to 20 students to the Wednesday 5 August test match.

Tickets are available from rams.org.nz for both the Friday night (7 August) game, which will have a tremendous atmosphere, and the final game of the series (Sunday August 9 in the new EA Networks Stadium in Ashburton).

 

The series underlines an already impressive build up for the Oceania Championships in August for a Tall Ferns roster that may well be peaking for the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, but one that is in the meantime also focused on qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

 

Canterbury's own Kennedy Kereama (Head Coach) is delighted to add a significant home series of games to the William Jones Cup in Chinese Taipei ahead of taking on the Aussies.

“It is very exciting to be hosting Japan on our shores in a three test series pre Oceania Champs. Playing games at home in front of our own fans and stakeholders is important to the growth of our game and exposure of the Tall Ferns brand. We are blessed with some amazing players on our roster, players who are enjoying great success for clubs and colleges all over the world and the opportunity to inspire our up and coming junior players by playing in front of home crowds will be a real boost for us."

Kereama says the focus will be twofold, one to perform well against world class opposition, but also to conclude preparations for the Melbourne and Tauranga Oceania Championships against the Opals, with the winner to qualify directly to Rio 2016.

“This series gives us a great platform to finish our preparation before playing the Opals. The Japanese are fierce competitors and boost some of the best talent in Asia including Asami Yoshida and Mamiya Yuka, both were named in the all-star five at the 2013 Asian Championships. The Japanese play a very unique and quick style of basketball, which will be a great test. Their quickness and ability to spread the floor with precision three-point shooting will give our transition and perimeter defence a real challenge.” 

 

Paul Duggan, General Manager Canterbury Basketball Association says the city can’t wait to host the series.

“The Japan test series is a great opportunity to have a showcase event to promote both the sport and the city. This will be the first International basketball played in Christchurch for over 10 years, and will provide some exciting and faced paced women’s basketball action.

“Christchurch and Japan have some strong links, including the Sister City relationship with Kurashiki, a strong tourism and exporting market, and are also intrinsically linked through the tragic events of the Christchurch earthquake.”

 

Following four days of trials Tall Ferns coach Kennedy Kereama has named 14 players to attend a preparation camp ahead of the international programme.

PLAYERS SELECTED
Guards/Small Forwards
Micaela Cocks, Townsville Fire (AUS)
Jordan Hunter, Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks
Stella Beck, Saint Mary's College of California (USA)
Samara Gallaher, Hume City Broncos (AUS), Oceana Gold Rush Otago
Natalie Taylor, Gladstone Power (AUS)
Kalani Purcell, Brigham Young University (USA)
Chevannah Paalvast, Southern Peninsular Sharks (AUS)
Jacinta Beckley, Seattle University (USA)

Forwards/Centres
Lisa Wallbutton, Willeton Tigers (AUS)
Jess Bygate, Gladstone Power in (AUS), Nelson Sparks
Megan Craig, Lakeside Lightning (AUS)
Penina Davidson, University of California (USA)
Tessa Boagni, California State University (USA)
Josie Stockill, Colgate University (USA)

• 16-19 July, Selection Camp, South Auckland
• 20-26 July, Preparation Camp, South Auckland
• 27-31 July, William Jones Cup, Chinese Taipei
• 5, 7, 9 August, Warm up games, Japan Series in Christchurch and Ashburton
• 15 August, Oceania Series, vs Australia, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
• 17 August, Oceania Series, vs Australia, ASB Arena, Tauranga