Lincoln University 3x3 basketball captain Connie Poletti says her team is confident it can perform at the upcoming FISU World University League Championships with one already under their belts.
The event in Xiamen China from 15-18 November is at the same venue for three years from 2017.
Caitlin Grice and Sophie Schrader made the trip last year, while rookie Ajiah Pepe makes up the complement who will take on the best of the world’s tertiary institutions in the growing sport which will have Olympic status in 2020.
The side did not score a win last year however, finishing fourteenth.
Lincoln again won the national champs in April to earn the trip and Poletti has a few learnings from last year.
“We have been working on creating space for each other, moving the ball and being active on offence. From this, we are able to move the defence in order to create an advantage for ourselves.
“We are quick, fit and focusing on being accurate. All of the girls are great team mates and want each other to succeed. We have been playing together all year for 5x5 format and have developed strong relationships off-court.”
She said competing against the best players from universities throughout the world was all the motivation she needed.
Manager Hoani Smith, who made the trip last year and will be going again, said last year’s event was a first for the players and he believed they were better for the experience. However, they are up against the unknown again, as they don’t know who the other teams might put on court.
Connie is mixing sport and study on the trip, staying on in China as part of a Lincoln University Prime Minister’s scholarship trip to China to learn more about the Chinese economy.
Among the 32 teams in contention in Xiamen are eight from Asia’s own, and sides from Mexico, Colombia, Ukraine, Australia and Hungary.
The game is played on half a court, with one hoop. There’s no halftime, no quarters, and the energy the players are putting out are always pegged at maximum.
It is outdoors, surrounded by music, entertainment and cheering fans. Each game lasts a maximum of 10 minutes. There’s a 12-second shot clock, ensuring teams take risks by attacking the rim and launching shots deep beyond the perimeter.