AUCKLAND (New Zealand) - Serving as a beacon of hope and model for Pacific players, standouts from the Cook Islands and Fiji are bannering their respective flags high and proud in the SAL’s National Basketball League (NBL) 18IN18 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Cook Islands’ Terai Ma Teata Elia formerly Terai Sadler, and Te Araroa Sapoaga with Letava Whippy of Fiji are creating ripples in the NZ NBL like giant waves in the Pacific.

Whippy currently plays for the Capital Swish, Elia suits up for Canterbury Wildcats while Sapoaga represents Otago Gold Rush.

They have served as vital cogs in the early campaign of their respective squads with Elia norming near double-double outing for Canterbury while Sapoaga doing a good job quarterbacking the Otago offense.

Photo: Elia (right) playing defense 

Elia, dropped 10 points, two assists, six rebounds, and three steals in their game against the Auckland Dream then followed it up with a 9-point, 13-rebound, 4-steal output in another unfortunate 42-55 loss to Whippy and the Swish.

"It's been tough not being able to come away with a win yet but I have enjoyed the opportunity to play especially considering everything that's happened at the start of the year. The games have been physical and fast and also a little scrappy at times but I wouldn't expect it any other way," shared Elia, who got married this year.

"I've been impressed at all of the younger ladies playing in this year's competition and feel they have stepped their game up," she added.

Sapoaga, meanwhile, had four markers, five dimes, and four boards in a 55-63 defeat against Waikato Wizards that served as the encore to her 8-point, 7-assist, 5-rebound, 2-block showing against Harbour Breeze, 47-58.

Photo: Sapoaga playing for the Otago Gold Rush

Whippy also had a rousing start for Capital with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and four steals in Capital's first win.

A former standout of champion St. Mary’s College in the Wellington and the NZ Junior Tall Ferns, the promising 18-year-old Sapoaga led the Cook Islands to a sixth-place finish in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa.

Elia, who joined Sapaoga in the Cook Islands team was also part of the country's strong showing in the historic 3x3 event, where she anchored the squad to a silver medal finish behind Fiji.

That Fiji squad, which also ended up second in basketball aside from the first-ever gold in 3x3, was led by Whippy – who is arguably the most experienced islander now making strides abroad.

She was a member of the Pacific Games’ All-Star Five.

Photo: Whippy (Third from left) with the Pacific Games Women's Basketball All-Star Five

The veteran cager started as a teen hopeful at 17 years of age trying to find an avenue to learn hoops before being a Fijian trailblazer.

She made it as far as US NCAA Division I, where she played for four years in Long Island University Sharks and even made the All-Defensive team in her senior season.

Whippy, Elia, and Sapoaga are paving the paths back home for aspiring kids, who were just like them in the past.

Yet, it's only the tip of the iceberg.

Like the Pacific, only on the horizon are the vast and deep island basketball potentials waiting to be discovered.

FIBA