Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
The Mainland Pouākai have opened their 2026 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa campaign on a high, defeating the Southern Hoiho 87-80 as they prepare for another challenging season.
Among those helping lead the way is rising star Ava Jones, who continues to balance the demands of elite basketball while still completing her secondary school studies.
Jones said the side's preparations had been strong heading into their opening match.
“I think our preparation has been really good in leading up to playing with the Hoiho," she said.
Head coach Alex Stojkovic said there is always uncertainty heading into a season opener.
"Obviously, going into game one is always a bit of an unknown. It's hard to predict what the opposition will be like. We know the Hoiho have got some core pieces back from last year, so there's going to be some consistency," he said.
THE 17-YEAR-OLD RISING THROUGH THE RANKS
Jones, who wears jersey number nine, is regarded as one of the competition's most exciting young talents. Basketball runs deep in her family. Her father, Phill Jones, is a Tall Blacks legend, while her mother, Kat Jones, represented New Zealand at age-group level. Jones credits her family for nurturing her love of the game.
"My brother and my sister both played for the age-group levels in New Zealand. My brother also debuted with the Tall Blacks a couple of years ago. So I feel like just my family brought me up playing basketball and I think if it wasn't for them, I don't think I would be playing."
Despite the challenges of balancing school commitments and basketball, she says support from both her school and the Pouākai has helped her manage the workload.
"It's definitely hard, but I've worked around it. I've gotten access to the school support and facilities, the programmes… give us opportunities to have extra study periods during school or an extra training session if needed," she said.
Having earned an early scholarship to Santa Clara University, Jones is using her time with the Pouākai to learn from those around her before taking the next step in her basketball journey.
“It's only, like, one flight away from New Zealand so I think that's a really big thing for me. But, yeah, it's really just been the development through these past three years and with STAC (St Andrews College) Basketball and the Pouākai to get me there”
MOTHERHOOD FUELS MCGOLDRICK'S RETURN
Meanwhile, veteran centre and Tall Fern Esra McGoldrick is back for her fourth season with the Pouākai after welcoming her first child in May.
McGoldrick said motherhood has brought a new perspective to her basketball career and praised the franchise for the support it has shown her and her whānau.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a change. I don't really get to go home and have time to myself anymore, but I'm super grateful to be in a position where I have a team that supports me as a mother. “she said.
After falling just short of a title last season and finishing runners-up to the Tauranga Whai, McGoldrick said the team is determined to go one better in 2026.
“I think we definitely have a chip on our shoulder this year. We want to do everything we can to bring a championship home to Canterbury,”
Their title ambitions will face an early challenge this weekend when the Pouākai take on the Tokomanawa Queens, featuring WNBA player Charlisse Leger-Walker (Whakatōhea).
McGoldrick welcomed the arrival of players of Leger-Walker's calibre to the Tauihi league.
“I think it's exciting to have her join the league…. what kind of talent we can bring back home and stuff like that, and what kind of talent we can showcase, so really excited to have her back home and back playing with her sister, so yeah, it'll be cool to see them in action”
The match shapes as an important early-season test as the Pouākai look to stake their claim as championship contenders.
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He timatanga pai tēnei terenga mō te kapa o Mainland Pouākai i tā rātou kaupeka Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa 2026, whai muri i te wikitoria 87-80 ki te Southern Hoiho, i a rātou e whakarite ana mō tēnei kaupeka uaua nei.
Ko tētahi o ngā kaitākaro e hāpai ana i te kapa ko te whetū rangatahi, ko Ava Jones nō Te Rarawa me Ngāpuhi, e ngana tonu ana ki te whakakotahi i ngā hiahia o tēnei taumata o te poitūkohu me ngā mahi ako ki te kura tuarua.
Hei tā Jones, he pai ngā whakaritenga a te kapa i mua i tā rātou tukinga tuatahi.
"I think training has been really good. I think our preparation has been really good in leading up to playing with the Hoiho," hei tāna.
Hei tā te kaiako matua a Alex Stojkovic, he maha tonu ngā āwangawanga i mua i te kēmu tuatahi o te tau.
"Obviously, going into game one is always a bit of an unknown. It's hard to predict what the opposition will be like. We know the Hoiho have got some core pieces back from last year, so there's going to be some consistency," hei tāna.
E ARA AKE RĀ TĒNEI KAITĀKARO, E 17 ŌNA PAKEKE,
Ko Jones tērā e mau ana i te tīhate nama iwa, tētahi o ngā tino pūmanawa rangatahi o te whakataetae. He whānau poitūkohu tōna. Ko Phill Jones tōna pāpā,, tētahi o ngā tino kaitākaro o te Tall Blacks, ka mutu, ko tōna māmā a Kat Jones, i tū hei māngai mō Aotearoa i ngā taumata rangatahi.
Hei tā Jones, nā tōna whānau ia i poipoi kia aroha ki te kēmu.
"My brother and my sister both played for the age-group levels in New Zealand. My brother also debuted with the Tall Blacks a couple of years ago. So I feel like just my family brought me up playing basketball and I think if it wasn't for them, I don't think I would be playing."
Ahakoa ngā uauatanga o te whakakotahi i ngā mahi kura me te poitūkohu, e mea ana a Jones he nui ngā tautoko mai i tana kura me te Pouākai.
"It's definitely hard, but I've worked around it. I've gotten access to the school support and facilities, the programmes… give us opportunities to have extra study periods during school or an extra training session if needed," hei tāna.
Kua whakawhiwhia kē a Jones ki tētahi karahipi ki te Whare Wānanga o Santa Clara kei Amerika, ā, e whai wā ana ia ki te ako mai i ōna hoa me ngā kaiako o te Pouākai i mua i tana haerenga ki tāwāhi.
“It's only, like, one flight away from New Zealand so I think that's a really big thing for me. But, yeah, it's really just been the development through these past three years and with STAC (St Andrews College) Basketball and the Pouākai to get me there”
KO TE NOHO HEI MĀMĀ I PUPŪ AKE TE HOKINGA MAI O MCGOLDRICK
I tēnei wā anō, kua hoki mai te pou tarāwaho a Esra McGoldrick, mō tana kaupeka tuawhā ki te Pouākai whai muri i te whānautanga mai o tana pēpi tuatahi i te marama o Mei.
Hei tā McGoldrick, kua rerekē tōna ao poitūkohu nā te noho whaea, ā, he nui tāna mihi ki te kapa mō te tautoko i a ia me tōna whānau.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a change. I don't really get to go home and have time to myself anymore, but I'm super grateful to be in a position where I have a team that supports me as a mother. “she said.
Whai muri i tā rātou hinga ki te kapa o Tauranga Whai i te whiringa toa o tērā tau, e hiahia ana a McGoldrick kia kore e pērā anō i tēnei kaupeka.
“I think we definitely have a chip on our shoulder this year. We want to do everything we can to bring a championship home to Canterbury,”
He whakamātautau nui kei te haere i tēnei wiki. Ka tuki te kapa Pouākai ki te kapa Tokomanawa Queens, me tā rātou tuki ki tēnei kaitākaro WNBA me te uri o Whakatōhea, a Charlisse Leger-Walker.
Hei tā McGoldrick, he whakamānawa i te urunga mai o ngā kaitākaro pēnei i a Leger-Walker ki te kaupeka Tauihi.
“I think it's exciting to have her join the league…. what kind of talent we can bring back home and stuff like that, and what kind of talent we can showcase, so really excited to have her back home and back playing with her sister, so yeah, it'll be cool to see them in action”
Ka noho tēnei tukinga hei tohu mō te kaha o te Pouākai, i a rātou e whai ana kia tū hei kaitono matua mō te taitara Tauihi 2026.