Ball legends’ honoured at international sporting showcase
Australia and New Zealand's elite basketball players were on show at UniSC Arena as part of the inaugural AUS v NZL Trans-Tasman Throwdown series.
Friday night (May 9) was electric at the UniSC Arena for the inaugural AUS v NZL Trans-Tasman Throwdown that featured the Australian Boomers and Opals and New Zealand Tall Backs and 2Degrees Tall Ferns.
The Sunshine Coast event drew more than 3,000 spectators, players from the two countries showcased their elite skills at UniSC Arena in the second thrilling instalment of the series that saw Australia again dominate the scoreboard:
- Australian Boomers 92 v New Zealand Tall Blacks 67 [view Recap]
- Australian Opals 98 v New Zealand 2Degrees Tall Ferns 57 [view Recap]
Australia will be etched as the inaugural champions of the AUS v NZ Trans-Tasman Throwdown with the roadshow series closing in New Zealand on May 11.
Economy Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg said the Trans-Tasman Throwdown had proved its worth and popularity with tickets selling out in March, well ahead of game day.
“We were excited to partner with Basketball Australia to host one of the inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown events, a fantastic opportunity to showcase our existing facilities and our capability to host high-profile events on the Sunshine Coast, Cr Landsberg said."
The new event series introduced a new tradition, with Australian basketball alumni to be honoured as ‘Ball Legends’.
Adding to the atmosphere at the UniSC Arena was a show of appreciation for ‘Ball Legend’ Tiana Mangakahia, who is a true basketball icon.
At the Adelaide & Sunshine Coast stops on the Throwdown, Australian Opals Rachael Sporn OAM OLY & Tiana Mangakahia were acknowledged for their contributions to the game and their community.
Tiana Mangakahia, a Queenslander with Māori heritage, starred for Syracuse in the NCAA from 2017 – 2021 and was selected in the Opals Olympics squad in 2020 and 2024 prior to receiving a further cancer diagnosis.
Tiana is continuing her breast cancer treatment whilst playing NBL1. It was a powerful moment when Mangakahia was acknowledged in front of a full house at UniSC Arena prior to the Opals v 2Degrees Tall Ferns.
The introduction of the ‘Ball Legend’ tradition is an initiative to champion the history of Australian basketball and the outstanding athletes and people that have contributed to the culture that persists today.
The tradition will be an ongoing feature for all of Basketball Australia’s domestic non-FIBA fixtures and involve a storytelling content component.