Unique basketball federation paving the way for Pacific women in the game

By Sia Talafou

A new basketball association is inspiring young Pacific kids to develop their skills for a future in the sport.

Tavake Pasifika is dedicated to progressing players' careers and being a foundation for young people who want to further themselves in basketball.

With teams in the professional Schick 3x3 Cup competition​​, Tavake Pasifika Women's Director Lyric Wolfgramm says she is pleasantly surprised at how far they have come in such a short amount of time. Since its start only two years ago, there has been growing interest from players both within New Zealand and overseas.

Tavake women's five on five player, Trinity Paeu says she is proud to be part of an organisation that is influencing young Pacific girls.

“I feel like being a part of that [Tavake], and the younger girls, seeing that they can also go into basketball being Polynesian and Māori … because there wasn’t a lot of that [young Polynesians in the game] growing up.”

Wolfgramm says their purpose and vision is to “build our Pacific people in the game and give them the space to come play".

With both grassroots and elite programmes, Wolfgramm says they have seen significant growth - especially in their grassroots programmes run in Māngere, Auckland.

Wolfgramme says this is key for the club’s future.

“It’s really important for a club to have … the younger kids coming up,” she says.

“Even though we have our elite players, their time will expire but it’s important to have the grassroots and preparing them … giving them a goal to reach which is playing at the higher level.”

Wolfgramm says she hopes the federation can equip young Pacific talent and propel them into further opportunities in a sport that is growing around the country.

“We hope to give them something to take wherever they go next, whether it’s Tauihi (professional women's basketball league in NZ), over to the states, a scholarship to Europe or wherever. We just try to develop them wherever we can.”

Tavake’s women’s squad are hoping to bring back the 3x3 Schick Cup in Invercargill next month.

*Sia Talafou ​ is working for PMN as part of an AUT journalism internship.