Ata mārie whānau mā,
Nau mai hoki mai ki te kura!
Over the holidays, we had 3x teams compete in the annual Tip-Off Pre-Season Invitational Tournament here in Rotorua, from Thursday 25th-Saturday 27th April:
JPC Whaitiri (Junior Boys A)
JPC Manawa (Senior Boys A)
There were some great games played amongst the juniors, considering it was each of their teams’ first games for the season, it took the first couple games for each team to find their footing, but they persevered, and ended up with decent finishes!
Our JPC Whaitiri finished pool play on a 3-way tie for 1st, but lost out on Top 4 by 1 point! Ultimately finishing 3rd in the pool. Always gutting, especially considering the team who ended up winning the Junior Boys’ Division 1, lost to us in pool play, but this goes to show that every single point counts! They went on to playoff for 5th and won that convincingly against Trident High School!
MVP for JPC Whaitiri: Maz Te Whaiti, Highly commended: Jackson Hepi, Jacob Eggers
Top Referee: Divyanshu Negi
The JPC Kapua, played with such determination and heart against some well established sides, then warmed up in time for playoffs against Western Heights High School where we won, placing us 3rd in the Junior Girls’ Division. Coach Emma and Atilla are really looking forward to these girls progressing in the season!
MVP for JPC Kapua: Arareina Phillips.
It was much more physical and emotional in the Senior Boys’ Division 2, where our JPC Manawa played tough games, often against the referees 
but they made up for that the only way they know best: by scoring more points, averaging a 27-point win margin each time, cleaning up pool play, advancing direct to the final where they beat Francis Douglas Memorial College 58-41, to take Gold in the Senior Boys’ Division 2! 
They now look forward to the Trident Invitational where they play some of the top teams in the Central North Island to build up their capability to play the big Basketball schools in our zone; Aquinas, St. Johns, and the Boys High Schools!
MVP for JPC Manawa: TBC!
They all dug deep, were all determined, and all stepped up where needed, and we’re having a hard decision choosing!
We received a taonga to add to our trophy cabinet!
Absolutely proud of ALL teams in this campaign, and looking forward to their regular seasons starting THIS WEEK! 
