High School Star Ritorya Tamilo Gets a Taste of International Basketball at FIBA Women’s Asia Cup
It was sunny Friday afternoon in Sydney, Australia when Ritorya Tamilo made her way down to the lobby of a hotel in Sydney Olympic Park. The constant humming of the lobby comprised of players and team personnel who were visiting for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2023, including the Sky Sport Tall Ferns.
Tournament weeks are often hectic with the balancing act of trainings, team meetings, constant games, and recovery time. It can be easy to get caught up in the madness, but focus is crucial in these settings. However, as Tamilo walked toward me, it became clear that the constant motion didn’t startle the 18 year-old senior team debutant.
Tamilo is focused. She looked relaxed and rejuvenated following the rest day 24 hours prior. And as we dove deeper into her promising career, it became clear that she possessed a certain attitude that’s critical for success at the international level. Our interview took place a few hours before the Tall Ferns faced off against the Philippines in a crucial crossover game that would determine New Zealand’s fate in placing in the top four in the Asia Cup. If achieved, the placement would send them to the next round of qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The stakes of the tournament were well understood within the team before they departed for Australia. For some of Tamilo’s teammates, this game has been a point on the calendar since they debuted for New Zealand.
But Tamilo didn’t come across nervous. Instead she was calm, composed and eager to take on the challenge that beckoned in the coming hours. Above all, she carried a confidence that kept her grounded in the whirlwind that she was experiencing.
Composure and confidence were key elements of Tamilo’s first senior international basketball campaign. The transition from classrooms and Friday night high school competitions to competing against world class teams at Sydney Olympic Park has yet to be covered in a handbook, so Tamilo leaned on another tool to help her centre herself: her mindset.
“Going into it you have to not be scared,” Tamilo said.
“You have to play with confidence.”
International tournaments can mask as a basketball masterclass, and the recent Asia Cup was no exception. And at just 18 years-old, Tamilo was not only right in the thick of it — she was thriving.
Take for example just days prior, Molloy named Tamilo in the starting five against a formidable Chinese team. The Chinese are known for putting forth a tall and deep roster, which have earned them a number two world ranking. They took home a silver medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney thanks to the contributions of high caliber players who are often found in the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association or WNBA. In addition to being a fully professional country, China’s roster includes players with heights that range up to nearly seven-feet tall.
It’s a challenge that might deter some, but one that the 18 year-old Auckland native takes on with open arms. So on a Tuesday night at the end of June, Tamilo traded life as Baradene College student for matching up with WNBA player and eventual tournament MVP Han Xu in her senior international debut.
Tamilo saw court time in five out of New Zealand’s six games in the tournament, most notably when she tallied 16 minutes against China and contributed two points off the back of a pass from captain Stella Beck. A few days later, she scored a career high seven points against a quick Japanese team in the semifinals. To sum it up, Tamilo made an effort to establish her presence on the floor while still feeling out the fast pace that comes with international basketball.
“[International basketball] a big step up from school or representative basketball; it’s a lot more physical and a lot faster,” Tamilo said.
“Obviously the players are much older and smarter than me but I’ve been enjoying it and loving it.”
Like many Kiwis, sport has played a big role in Tamilo’s upbringing in Auckland. Her basketball story began thanks to a familiar script that has been shared by others in the basketball world: it involves an orange ball and a friend who was in need of a teammate. The thing was, netball had been Tamilo’s sport of choice. That was until her horizons shifted in Year 7.
“I was initially playing netball but then a friend of mine from my netball team who was also playing basketball needed an extra player,” Tamilo recalled.
Netball is popular in the Tamilo whānau, who set an example for her early on as her sister also played. However, basketball had yet to have a precedent in their household, so once she started playing it was up to her to start another legacy.
“I grew up with a lot of netball — my older sister she played netball. I’m the first in my family to play basketball so it was a bit of a change but it’s good,” she said.
And so she started paving her own path. With the support of her family — who you might have seen in the crowd at the Asia Cup waving New Zealand flags — Tamilo’s growth can be described as a journey of development, and has learned from various opportunities that have been presented to her. She’s a standout at Baradene College where you can find her scoring in double figures, including 20+ points per game. Her development has also taken her to the New Zealand age group level for tournaments such as the 2022 FIBA Women’s Under-16 Asian Championship. Earlier this year, she was selected for the HoopNation Xposure tour in Melbourne.
“My journey here has been quite a lot of development I’d say with all the rep, school teams and trainings. I’m trying get into as many teams as I can to better my skills and improve myself,” she said.
She has since taken those experiences and incorporated them into her learning at the senior team level. When asked about the difference in coaching at the senior level, Tamilo described the coaches as “very straightforward so you have to be tough mentally and try your best.”
Her first international campaign also provided the opportunity to learn from one of New Zealand’s top players in Penina Davidson. As one of the up-and-coming bigs at six-foot-four, the tournament was a chance of a lifetime to work with Davidson, who has become top tier through her time in the college, WNBL and NBL 1.
“{Penina] has been a great teammate and a mentor to me as well. Being so young I’ve got a lot to learn so she’s been amazing and helping me here and there, getting stronger,” Tamilo said.
The month of June provided a glimpse of insight as to what the trajectory of Tamilo’s future could look like. There’s already confirmation of where we’ll see her next and it’s not too far away: she’ll suit up for the Northern Kāhu as part of the 2023 G.J. Gardener Homes Tauihi Aotearoa league which tips off on 12 July. We’re likely to see her as part of the new Rapid League, which is aimed to provide opportunities for young players such as Tamilo to develop against some of the country’s top talent in a similar age group.
Similar to other athletes in her position, Tamilo’s basketball aspirations span off-shore, too. As her secondary school education comes closer to the finish line, she has her sights set on an NCAA Division I scholarship in the United States in the coming years to further her game. Her talent speaks for itself, and is hoping to catch the eye of a school that exemplifies qualities that she describes as “ similar to home as well find bits of Aotearoa in the States.”
One of the aspects of Aotearoa that she hopes will be reflected in a future collegiate programme is the team culture. Given the tight-knit culture of Aotearoa, it’s not surprise that a strong team bond would be a top priority.
Aside from the team personnel, another bullet point on Tamilo’s wish list is one that she can’t necessarily control: the weather. Having grown up in Auckland, Tamilo is used to a warmer climate than other parts of the country. As she describes it: “[I] don’t want to go anywhere with too much snow because don’t like cold weather,” she added with a laugh.
There’s no question that Tamilo has a bright future. And even though she didn’t start out throwing the same ball that she currently spends a lot of time with, her work ethic and composure speaks volumes. From admiring netball great Irene Van Dyke to now playing with her basketball role models, the Leger-Walker sisters, her quick development has already opened so many doors for her.
She, of course, remains humble through it all. When asked if she had anything else she wanted to add, it was a no brainer:
“Thanks for all your love and support.”
