Kapiti based basketball players Sereana Rokotakala and Evyatar Tabor who were selected for the New Zealand Basketball Academy USA Las Vegas Tour 2019. It was an action packed two weeks of intense Basketball playing against the best High School athletes in America.
8 teams represented the NZBA across 3 tournament with all teams performing extremely well and with the Academy coming home with 7 championship titles including 3 consecutive titles to the 16U Girls. The best ever achievement in the history of the New Zealand Basketball Academy.
Sereana Rokotakala (Paraparaumu College Senior Girls Team) is a member of the NZBA Varsity Senior Girls Team who won the Classic Tournament Championship, plus Seri along with 2 other NZBA Varsity Girls players were handpicked and were centre court with the WNBA All Stars!! The girls exchanged basketballs & in return received an autographed ball with their idols and also got to be part of the All Star huddle - what an amazing experience to be part of on the USA Women's Basketball centre stage.
How often can you say that Kiwi girls rubbed shoulders with the best players in the game. Sereana on the court at the WNBA All Stars game.
Evyatar Tabor (Rongitai College Snr Boys Team - 2018 Secondary School Basketball Champions) is a member of the NZBA Varsity Boys Team that was coached by Kenny McFadden and had great success up against the best high school basketballers from all around the USA.
Huge Congratulations to Evy who was named as one of seven Kiwi's selected to attend the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia camp in Japan in September. This no small feat for this young man for his future and career to be able to play on the world stage and be seen by coaches from all around the world.
Both Seri & Evy have been selected for previous NZBA Las Vegas Tours and each experience has helped them develop their game and knowledge.
All the players stay on campus at the University of Las Vegas for the full two weeks of the tour and get to experience student athlete life on campus and compete against the American basketball talent from all over the USA.
NZBA is about providing opportunities for our youth, competing with and against the best teams from around the USA, fostering a pure love for the game and creating a student/athlete experience.
It is important to celebrate the accolades, but the lifetime experiences, building memories and lasting friendships, is the true winner.
These experiences are things these players will never forget and it just goes to show that hard work pays off.
So proud of what these two players have achieved.
Link to the piece on TV One News Friday night of the NZBA Teams returning home at Auckland Airport.
The New Zealand Basketball Camp and Trials for the 2020 Tour start on Sat 19 & Sun 20 October for players 11 to 18 years http://www.nzbasketballacademy.com/las-vegas-2019-trials-training-camp/
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