BENDIGO Lady Braves star Ash Karaitiana will fulfill a long-time dream of hers when she represents the New Zealand Tall Ferns next month in Asia.
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Karaitiana, who holds dual Australian and New Zealand citizenship, was today (Friday) named in a 10-player squad to contest the William Jones Cup in Taiwan from July 25-29.
The Tall Ferns will have a preparation camp in Japan from July 18-24, which will include two games against the Japanese national team, before travelling to Taiwan.
Their Cup campaign will feature games against Japan, Korea, two Chinese Taipei teams and yet to be announced sixth team.
The Tall Ferns will be coached by Melbourne Boomers WNBL coach Guy Molloy.
New Zealand will be the second country Karaitiana has represented.
She previously played for the Australian Gems at the 2009 under-19 world championships in Thailand and 2011 world championships in Chile.
The 25-year-old, who was born in Hamilton on New Zealand’s north island but moved to Sydney with family when she was six, has spent the past two WNBL seasons with Bendigo Spirit and is in her first stint with the Braves women.
She said she was grateful for the opportunity to represent the country of her birth.
“I’ve been in contact with Guy for quite a while about trying to get my basketball nationalisation with FIBA switched over to New Zealand,” she said.
“But because this tournament is not run by FIBA I am able to go.
“It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl.
“When I moved to Australia, I was in the right country to provide me with the right pathway to become successful and be where I am today.
“But I have dual citizenship and it’s always been a dream to represent New Zealand – I am just thankful Guy Molly has given me that opportunity.”
Karaitiana is not the first member of her family to represent the Tall Ferns.
“This is definitely the icing on the cake being able to play for the New Zealand national team,” she said.
“I have had aunties, who have played with New Zealand, so I am proud to say I have been where they have able to be at.”
Her Tall Ferns commitments mean Karaitiana will miss the Braves women’s final two regular season matches against Frankston Blues and Nunawading Spectres and their first final.
A new-look New Zealand team contains just one player, Kalani Purcell, from the line-up which won bronze at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April, and includes four debutantes, including Karaitiana.
Molloy said this was an intentional ploy as the tour provided opportunity to build an experienced depth chart, as he eyed the 2020 Olympics.
“Since results on the upcoming tour has no implications for world ranking, we have been given a strategic opportunity to build depth within the Tall Ferns program and do some exciting talent identification,” he told the Basketball New Zealand website.
“I have seen plenty of the players who represented New Zealand with distinction at the Commonwealth Games to ensure their consideration for selection in 2019.
It’s been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl.
- Ash Karaitiana
“This is a perfect time for some excellent young players to wear the black singlet again or represent the Tall Ferns for the first time.”
Representing New Zealand is the latest accolade for Karaitiana, who previously played four years of US college basketball with distinction at the University of Hawaii.
She is averaging 11.3 points, 2.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds for a Braves team, which has started the 2018 season 11-0.
The Braves play Sydney Uni Sparks at 6pm today at Bendigo Stadium.