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Regional | Basketball

Rising Suns basketball team makes a come back

Gisborne based basketball team, Rising Suns, has been established now for 25 years. In 2009 it was folded from Basketball New Zealand's plan, however, just this year the team has made a comeback. One young man has also made the return to his home town to share his basketball skills with the next generation.

The Rising Suns basketball team is one of the most well-known teams of the Gisborne area. There are also some players from here who have played for NZ.

Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson left Gisborne a few years ago to refine his playing skills, however, he felt the need to move back to his home town to play.

"It's amazing. Obviously I made the hard choice of leaving Hawkes Bay when I was playing down there but it didn't feel right playing against my home town so I chose to come back," says Shaquille Hohipa-Wilson.

Dwayne Tamatea, coach of the Rising Suns, is elated about Shaquille's return home, saying he's the right person to help assist the pro basketball players of tomorrow.

"It's a great value having him back here. He goes back to the Hawkes and plays in the national league so it's good for him to come back here and help out our younger generation," says Dwayne Tamatea.

It's fair to say that if it wasn't for those who continue to nurture the team, it wouldn't be standing strong today.

It is believed that the Rising Suns will continue to flourish in years to come.