November 22, 2024 • 8 mins
With just three rounds to go in the Tauihi National Basketball League, the Tokomanawa Queens seek to reclaim top spot when hosting the Mainland Pouākai at TSB Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Adam Cooper was joined by young point guard Alana Paewai to preview the game, and hear about her basketball journey.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yes, looks be on the All Sport Breakfast. Well, let's
talk the Toeyhei National Basketball League now and the Wellington
based team, the top one of a Queen's are back
home at tesp Arena tomorrow afternoon, of course, looking to
reclaim top spot after a loss to the Southern Hoy
Hoo here in the Capitol last weekend. But they'll be
hosting the Mainland pollarchive from three tomorrow afternoon. Well worth
(00:20):
getting along a great squad that the Queens have this
year and some great basketball being played well. Joining us
now to look ahead to the game is one of
the great lineup of young up and coming basketball is
in the Queen's team this season, guard Alana Piwise Originally
from Mahia. She's been in a whole list of national
age group teams from under fourteens right up to the
junior Tall Ferns, so very experienced at a national level.
(00:41):
She's also been involved in college basketball in the US.
Alana's predominantly featured in the toey He Rapid League so
far this season. Of those are the short curtain raiser
games in the league that showcase younger players, give them
some game time and of course some TV coverage as
well around the globe. So Alana is with us now,
morning to you. Alana. First, how eager is the team
to bounce back in the main league this weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, we're pretty ready to get back against Polar Puy.
We've come off a lost against them so in the
main game, so we're pretty keen to level out the scores.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, exactly what did you learn from that that you
hope to sort of bring in for a return game
like this one.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I think we're just going to focus on our own game.
You know, you can't really control other teams and what
they bring into the game, but your own enner year
as a team. So yeah, just focusing on what we're
good at and really littling in in it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And it was a hoy ho at home as well
last weekend, a five point loss. Again, sort of reflections
on that one. A rather tight game overall.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yes, tight game, especially in this Towerhee league. It's always
anyone's game, so it can never be too comfortable. But yeah,
coming off their loss, we're just really hungry for this one,
and China even out our standings on the table.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
So overall though, is there sort of a lot of
satisfaction in the team about you know where you said,
obviously everyone wants to be top, but you've you've had
a pretty good season overall results wise.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Right, Yeah, I like you say, you can never be
too satisfied. Everyone's hungry for that top spot, especially us Quentins.
We want the finals to be back here in Wellington,
so we're going to give it out all for the
rest of the season just to try and bring that
finals back to Wellington for the city. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And from a point guard's perspective, like yourself, how does
sort of how's the team gelling this year? And you've
got sort of the right players around around you to
sort of succeed.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah. I think management and our coach have done a
wonderful job and recruiting great players from all around the
world just to bring our talent together. I think we're
yelling well when we're seven rounds in already, so we've
had a lot of time to get to know each
other's games and really compliment each other in ways that
(02:59):
haven't happened in the first round. So yeah, I think
we're doing a pretty good job as a team. It
is hard with the two different leagues, the Rapid League
and the towey He League, well, seven players having to
play two games, so yeah, we're just we've been learning
over the last seven rounds of what works for us
and what doesn't and we're coming down to the business
(03:20):
end of the season, so we're feeling pretty confident.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
And Alani, you've had a great journey through basketball right
through age group, you know, from New Zealand under fourteen
right up to junior Tall Ferns. In terms of this
league from your experience, how much have you grown sort
of being part of the toey Hey environment, especially with
the Queens this season.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, I think I've grown a lot. So growing up
wasn't always there wasn't always a professional level to look
forward to. So to have such a high level competition
is amazing, especially for the younger ones they want to
look up to this league and.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Your own aspirations. Does a league like this sort of
keep you in New Zealand rather than sort of what
a lot of top players by default having to sort
of look over sure for the clubs.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Growing up, my goal was always
to go overseas to America because we didn't have this
in New Zealand, and now that it's become a professional league,
and it's something to look forward to where you can
still play at a high level in your own country.
I think that's been a main factor for me to
stay home in New Zealand and not go back to
the American college system.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
So yeah, yeah, interesting. And I know through your I mean,
you're only twenty, so you've got a huge future. But
you have had a tough couple of tough injuries through
your career. Can you can you just give us a
bit of an insight into how you've dealt with those,
because you know, no one likes spending time on the sidelines,
but you've obviously had to had to work pretty hard
at various points of your career to get back on court.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, So I went. I played
in the women's league quite young when I was sixteen,
and then at the end of that year, I did
my ACL so I was out for a year. I
missed my senior year in high school, and then I
went over to college in America, and it's just before
(05:06):
I left, I did my miniscus, so that's me up
for another six months. So I spent the first half
of my season in America. Rehabbing and just getting my
body back up to par I spent my time in
Arizona and then I came home, did a bit of off
season tournaments at the New Zealand Under twenty Nationals and
that's why I did my other acls. Been a rough
(05:29):
couple of seasons for me, but I'm just grateful that
I've had the support from coaches and management SYSIO from
all over in America and here in New Zealand to
help me get back on the court. And I'm really
grateful for Walter and Rachel at the Queens for giving
me this opportunity to get back on to this professional
(05:50):
level and really just give me a shot.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, and they've got be people listening that have had
issues and you know, tough setbacks like that across all
different sports. What's your piece of advice to of people
out there that may be facing similar kind of injuries,
similar times away from their their loved sport to get
through it.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I would just say keep at it. I mean, you're
always going to have hard days, and some days will
be easier than the others, but as long as you
keep sticking at your goals of getting back and generally,
I would say is be nice to yourself. You're not
always going to bounce back every day the same that
you were before your injury, but you when you do
have grateful day, when you do have good days, be
(06:29):
grateful for those days and really live in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Yeah, really cool advice. Speaking of America, Jordan Horston part
of this team obviously as many would have expected coming
from the w NBA, with Seattle getting huge numbers for
the Queens this year. What's it like having someone like
her as part of the setup.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Oh yeah, it's amazing having that level of a player
around us training. It just forces us to have to
lift up, lift our game and you know, we can
take things from her game and add it into ours,
so that she really cool to have someone like her around.
She's not just a good player on the court, but
he's an amazing person off the court, so it really
(07:05):
helps with having a person like her and the team. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Amazing. And back at tesB Arena for this game on Sunday,
you know, it looked like a really good atmosphere and
must have been an enjoyable playing at the big venue
in Wellington in the last round. Excited, hopefully another big
crowd this Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, exactly, We're I'm very excited to be back at
the TSB Arena, a great stadium for us to play
out in a great location where we're just excited for
everybody to get in and support us. And hopefully we
can pack up that stadium and then get our friends
and family and support us around to support us to
get at that dub. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Absolutely, and we always love a win over Mainland the
South Island. So yeah, all the best, all the best
with that, a lot of thanks so much for chatting.
Really cool to hear about you, your journey and your
time as part of the Queen's here, So all the
best this weekend and of course the fight for that
playoff spot as the season goes on. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Awesome, Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
For more from News Talk set B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Yes, looks be on the All Sport Breakfast. Well, let's
talk the Toeyhei National Basketball League now and the Wellington
based team, the top one of a Queen's are back
home at tesp Arena tomorrow afternoon, of course, looking to
reclaim top spot after a loss to the Southern Hoy
Hoo here in the Capitol last weekend. But they'll be
hosting the Mainland pollarchive from three tomorrow afternoon. Well worth
(00:20):
getting along a great squad that the Queens have this
year and some great basketball being played well. Joining us
now to look ahead to the game is one of
the great lineup of young up and coming basketball is
in the Queen's team this season, guard Alana Piwise Originally
from Mahia. She's been in a whole list of national
age group teams from under fourteens right up to the
junior Tall Ferns, so very experienced at a national level.
(00:41):
She's also been involved in college basketball in the US.
Alana's predominantly featured in the toey He Rapid League so
far this season. Of those are the short curtain raiser
games in the league that showcase younger players, give them
some game time and of course some TV coverage as
well around the globe. So Alana is with us now,
morning to you. Alana. First, how eager is the team
to bounce back in the main league this weekend.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, we're pretty ready to get back against Polar Puy.
We've come off a lost against them so in the
main game, so we're pretty keen to level out the scores.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, exactly what did you learn from that that you
hope to sort of bring in for a return game
like this one.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I think we're just going to focus on our own game.
You know, you can't really control other teams and what
they bring into the game, but your own enner year
as a team. So yeah, just focusing on what we're
good at and really littling in in it.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
And it was a hoy ho at home as well
last weekend, a five point loss. Again, sort of reflections
on that one. A rather tight game overall.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yes, tight game, especially in this Towerhee league. It's always
anyone's game, so it can never be too comfortable. But yeah,
coming off their loss, we're just really hungry for this one,
and China even out our standings on the table.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
So overall though, is there sort of a lot of
satisfaction in the team about you know where you said,
obviously everyone wants to be top, but you've you've had
a pretty good season overall results wise.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Right, Yeah, I like you say, you can never be
too satisfied. Everyone's hungry for that top spot, especially us Quentins.
We want the finals to be back here in Wellington,
so we're going to give it out all for the
rest of the season just to try and bring that
finals back to Wellington for the city. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
And from a point guard's perspective, like yourself, how does
sort of how's the team gelling this year? And you've
got sort of the right players around around you to
sort of succeed.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Yeah. I think management and our coach have done a
wonderful job and recruiting great players from all around the
world just to bring our talent together. I think we're
yelling well when we're seven rounds in already, so we've
had a lot of time to get to know each
other's games and really compliment each other in ways that
(02:59):
haven't happened in the first round. So yeah, I think
we're doing a pretty good job as a team. It
is hard with the two different leagues, the Rapid League
and the towey He League, well, seven players having to
play two games, so yeah, we're just we've been learning
over the last seven rounds of what works for us
and what doesn't and we're coming down to the business
(03:20):
end of the season, so we're feeling pretty confident.
Speaker 1 (03:24):
And Alani, you've had a great journey through basketball right
through age group, you know, from New Zealand under fourteen
right up to junior Tall Ferns. In terms of this
league from your experience, how much have you grown sort
of being part of the toey Hey environment, especially with
the Queens this season.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yeah, I think I've grown a lot. So growing up
wasn't always there wasn't always a professional level to look
forward to. So to have such a high level competition
is amazing, especially for the younger ones they want to
look up to this league and.
Speaker 1 (03:56):
Your own aspirations. Does a league like this sort of
keep you in New Zealand rather than sort of what
a lot of top players by default having to sort
of look over sure for the clubs.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Growing up, my goal was always
to go overseas to America because we didn't have this
in New Zealand, and now that it's become a professional league,
and it's something to look forward to where you can
still play at a high level in your own country.
I think that's been a main factor for me to
stay home in New Zealand and not go back to
the American college system.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
So yeah, yeah, interesting. And I know through your I mean,
you're only twenty, so you've got a huge future. But
you have had a tough couple of tough injuries through
your career. Can you can you just give us a
bit of an insight into how you've dealt with those,
because you know, no one likes spending time on the sidelines,
but you've obviously had to had to work pretty hard
at various points of your career to get back on court.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, So I went. I played
in the women's league quite young when I was sixteen,
and then at the end of that year, I did
my ACL so I was out for a year. I
missed my senior year in high school, and then I
went over to college in America, and it's just before
(05:06):
I left, I did my miniscus, so that's me up
for another six months. So I spent the first half
of my season in America. Rehabbing and just getting my
body back up to par I spent my time in
Arizona and then I came home, did a bit of off
season tournaments at the New Zealand Under twenty Nationals and
that's why I did my other acls. Been a rough
(05:29):
couple of seasons for me, but I'm just grateful that
I've had the support from coaches and management SYSIO from
all over in America and here in New Zealand to
help me get back on the court. And I'm really
grateful for Walter and Rachel at the Queens for giving
me this opportunity to get back on to this professional
(05:50):
level and really just give me a shot.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Yeah, and they've got be people listening that have had
issues and you know, tough setbacks like that across all
different sports. What's your piece of advice to of people
out there that may be facing similar kind of injuries,
similar times away from their their loved sport to get
through it.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
I would just say keep at it. I mean, you're
always going to have hard days, and some days will
be easier than the others, but as long as you
keep sticking at your goals of getting back and generally,
I would say is be nice to yourself. You're not
always going to bounce back every day the same that
you were before your injury, but you when you do
have grateful day, when you do have good days, be
(06:29):
grateful for those days and really live in the moment.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Yeah, really cool advice. Speaking of America, Jordan Horston part
of this team obviously as many would have expected coming
from the w NBA, with Seattle getting huge numbers for
the Queens this year. What's it like having someone like
her as part of the setup.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Oh yeah, it's amazing having that level of a player
around us training. It just forces us to have to
lift up, lift our game and you know, we can
take things from her game and add it into ours,
so that she really cool to have someone like her around.
She's not just a good player on the court, but
he's an amazing person off the court, so it really
(07:05):
helps with having a person like her and the team. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Amazing. And back at tesB Arena for this game on Sunday,
you know, it looked like a really good atmosphere and
must have been an enjoyable playing at the big venue
in Wellington in the last round. Excited, hopefully another big
crowd this Sunday.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yeah, exactly, We're I'm very excited to be back at
the TSB Arena, a great stadium for us to play
out in a great location where we're just excited for
everybody to get in and support us. And hopefully we
can pack up that stadium and then get our friends
and family and support us around to support us to
get at that dub. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Absolutely, and we always love a win over Mainland the
South Island. So yeah, all the best, all the best
with that, a lot of thanks so much for chatting.
Really cool to hear about you, your journey and your
time as part of the Queen's here, So all the
best this weekend and of course the fight for that
playoff spot as the season goes on. Appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Awesome, Thank you for that.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
For more from News Talk set B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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