WELLINGTON (FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2017) – Basketball New Zealand has named their U16 women’s roster ahead of the FIBA Under 16 Women’s Asia Championship 2017, which will be held in Bengaluru, India 22-28 October.

Head Coach Lori McDaniel, says the Asia Championship is this young team’s pinnacle event for 2017 and has been the sole focus of their training.

"We have had multiple camps during the year to gel as a group and become familiar with our systems and expectations," said McDaniel. "We have put the girls through some 'outside the box' activities in order to prepare them to be adaptable and embrace adversity."

Being their first time competing in Asia, this young squad will have many challenges to overcome, especially when it comes to the opposition teams. 

"The Asian teams play very fast and aggressively, and we all know how skilled and disciplined the Australian players are," added McDaniel. "Most of the teams we encounter will play a style similar to their women's teams, which we saw in July when the Tall Ferns played. So, we expect a high level of competition with some very fit and skilled athletes."

"It’s a big tournament in a big country, but travel and heat are factors all the teams have to contend with."

Coach McDaniel says the team will travel to Bengaluru early, to allow four days to adjust and finish off their preparation ahead of stepping into their very first Asia Championship.

“We have a talented group of young ladies who are in the unique situation of being the first New Zealand age-group to play in the Asia Zone. We will strive to embrace this opportunity to showcase our skillset on such a large stage.”

One player who will not be afraid of the big stage is Charlisse Leger-Walker. After competing in the FIBA U18 Women's Oceania Championship 2016, the FIBA U17 Women's Oceania Championship 2017 and training with the Tall Ferns squad in their preparations for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2017, Leger-Walker is a player to watch at this year's event.

Charlisse Leger-Walker during New Zealand's FIBA U17 Women's Oceania Championship 2017 Silver Medal performance

As for how this event will test McDaniel as a coach, she says that too is a team effort, alongside Assistant Coaches Jody Cameron and Gina Farmer. 

“I am fortunate in my coaching role to be supported by two former Tall Ferns who have a great deal of experience in international travel within the Basketball New Zealand system.”

Travel which most recently includes Assistant Coach Cameron adding a FIBA U17 Women's Oceania Championship 2017 silver medal to her resume earlier this year in Guam.

FIBA