Thursday 11 July 2019 12:18pm
The University of Otago Men’s Basketball team is off to compete in the BLIA Tournament in Taiwan.
Otago’s top performing basketball team is making history as it heads to Taiwan this week to play in the Buddha’s Light International Association Basketball (BLIA) Tournament.
The team is the first New Zealand university team to compete in the tournament and was invited by Fo Gaung Shan/International Buddhist Association New Zealand.
The University of Otago Men’s Basketball team will face university teams from the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, The Philippines and China.
Head coach Mitchell Langton says the team was approached to compete in the tournament by the group who wanted a team who could represent New Zealand at the highest level. The Otago team won the University Tertiary National Championships last year.
“It’s going to be a completely different experience. We’re the first New Zealand university team to go to this tournament. We jumped at the chance,” Langton says.
The tournament runs from 16-21 July, with the team leaving on 14 July and returning 23 July.
"It’s going to be a completely different experience. We’re the first New Zealand university team to go to this tournament. We jumped at the chance."
The trip is fully funded by Fo Gaung Shan/International Buddhist Association New Zealand.
The 12-man team is made up of University of Otago students come from throughout the country; Auckland, Hamilton, Taranaki, Palmerston, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. They all played playing key roles in their high school nationals’ competition and have represented their regions at different age groups, with some of the players also winning national championships before coming to University.
The team includes former Otago Nuggets shooting guard Micah Lepaio, former Junior Tall Black and Regional Otago Men’s squad member Nathan Hanna, former Junior Tall Black and former National Basketball League player Josh Aitcheson and former National Basketball League player Darcy Knox.
For the preliminary stage of the tournament the eight teams have been divided into two groups for a single round robin format competition. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals and then to the final. The remaining teams will play for fifth to eight places.
The Otago team will be facing Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology, Xiamen University and Vanguard University of Southern Carolina in their pool.
Langton says the trip is an opportunity to represent the University and New Zealand at the highest level possible.
"We are there to win the tournament but at the same time it is a great experience for all the players and coaches at the next level.
"This is also a great building block as preparation for nationals later on in the year."
The selected team will also be representing the University of Otago at the University Tertiary Sport New Zealand Basketball Championships on 20-22 September in Christchurch.
Games
1st game - 17/7/19 6:20pm Taiwanese time – Otago University vs Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology
2nd game – 18/7/19 12:20pm Taiwanese time – Otago University vs Xiamen University
3rd game - 19/7/19 10:40am Taiwanese time – Otago University vs Vanguard University of Southern Carolina
The University of Otago Men’s Basketball Team
Head Coach - Mitchell Langton
Assistant Coach - Sam Fielding
Manager - Alf Arlidge
PlayersNathan Hanna
Height: 6’7”
Position: Power Forward, CentreMatthew Bardsley
Height: 6’2”
Position: Shooting guard, Small forwardJosh Aitcheson
Height: 6’6”
Position: Shooting guard, Small forwardAaron Roydhouse
Height: 6’4”
Position: Power Forward, CentreMicah Lepaio
Height: 6’
Position: Shooting GuardLogan Dicker
Height: 5’10”
Position: Shooting GuardStanley Muru
Height: 6’6”
Position: CentreTom Davison
Height: 5’10”
Position: Point Guard, Shooting GuardIsaac Smiler
Height: 6’4”
Position: Shooting Guard, Small ForwardAJ Auld-Beverlry
Height: 5’11”
Position: Point GuardDarcy Knox
Height: 6’2”
Position: Point GuardSamson Aruwa
Height: 6’5”
Position: Centre