On Sunday, July 13, in a thrilling showdown at Wellington’s TSB Arena, our upstart Tauranga Whai squad faced the mighty Wellington Saints in the NZ NBL Semi-Final.
Undaunted by the challenge, the boys gave it their all—but ultimately fell 93–68 to a powerhouse Saints team led by Nick Marshall (22 pts, 11 rebs, 6 ast) and Hyrum Harris (20 pts, 6 rebs, 4 ast).
A Season to Be Proud Of
From just 9‑11 in the regular season, we surged into the playoffs, showcasing resilience and heart .
We split the season series: a landmark 82–78 upset in Round 1 on our own court back in May, before the Saints responded with a dominant 94–68 win in June.
This Semi-Final run—just our second season in franchise history—marks a pivotal milestone, giving our young team invaluable playoff experience and belief.
Growth & Positivity
Despite the scoreline, this result represents exactly where we need to be. We saw efforts from Kruz Perrott‑Hunt (15 pts, 6 ast), Mojave King (13 pts), Jayden Bezzant (12 pts), Anzac Rissetto (11 pts, 7 rebs) and Carter Hopoi (10 pts) —a testament to our balanced roster and growing depth.
More importantly, every player got meaningful minutes on a national stage against the league’s top squad. That exposure – against experienced pros like Marshall, Harris, Muszynski, Ngatai, Bruce – is pure gold for our long-term vision NZ Sports Wire.
Looking Ahead
Our 2025 debut season ended in 8th place; this year we’re semi-finalists—a leap that demonstrates our club’s upward trajectory .
The players have tasted playoff intensity. Next season, they’ll be hungrier, tougher, and more composed.
With the backing of Tauranga Moana’s community and our coaching staff, this foundation is setting us up for even bigger success.
Final Thoughts
A loss to the Saints is no shame—they’re riding high, with the league’s best regular-season record (16‑4) and a mission to reclaim glory. Still, taking them head-on and making them work hard underscores our fearless culture and bright future.
To everyone who cheered, supported, and believed—thank you. This is only the beginning. Our young Whai are charging forward, stronger and hungrier than ever. See you for the Tauihi season in September!