The 2025 Tauihi season carries a deeper which means for the Tokomanawa Queens, as they honour a Queen of basketball, Tiana Mangakahia.
Mangakahia was a gifted Australian basketballer who handed away two weeks in the past following a brave battle with breast most cancers. She was set to play for the Queens this season.
The workforce’s newest star signing and Australian championship successful guard, Bec Cole, says will probably be particular to honour Mangakahia this 12 months.
“It has a lot [more meaning]. I even have goosebumps speaking about it now,” Cole stated.
This 12 months the Queens may have a Piki Pink Spherical and have modified their away strip to pink to honour Mangakahia, and present their help for the Breast Most cancers Treatment charitable belief.
“Basketball is only a sport and sadly we don’t have a Queen with us this season. However we’re at all times going to really feel her particularly in that strip,” Cole stated.
“We now have one thing extra to play for than only a win, we wish to play arduous. We wish to go away all of it on the ground and we additionally wish to take pleasure in our time collectively on courtroom for Tiana as a result of that’s what she would have needed and that’s how she would have performed.”
Cole says Mangakahia impressed so many on and off the hardwood.
“She’s left such a big effect on so many individuals. She’s an inspiration to so many to dwell your life to the total. She can be so dearly missed however we will certainly be speaking about her rather a lot this season.
“Tiana at all times had a glass half full, and she or he at all times noticed the optimistic issues in life. On the courtroom she was only a baller, she was a gangster on the market and was so good and so savvy. However most of all she was so form and caring and actually had a love for the folks round her and a love for the sport.”
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Simply three months in the past, 33-year-old Cole didn’t know a lot about Tauihi however she knew that it was a league on the rise.
“I knew that it was new and it’s constructing each season. There’s extra worldwide gamers coming right here and extra huge names. I feel it’s actually making a reputation for itself,” Cole stated.
Cole’s good good friend and fellow Australian teammate Lou Brown performed for the Queens in 2024 and she or he was curious to know extra about her expertise.
The pair gained a championship collectively for the Southside Melbourne Flyers in 2024.
Cole says Brown had “nothing however good issues to say in regards to the league and the Queens.”
She additionally reached out to Tauihi founder Justin Nelson who then linked her with Queens Normal Supervisor Walter Taulelei.
“I had my first dialog with Walter and he appeared like an superior man. I actually trusted my intestine and one thing in me was telling me that is the place I ought to go.”
It was whereas she was on vacation in Queenstown in June that she informed Taulelei over the telephone she was able to put pen to paper.
“I really feel prefer it was destiny that I used to be supposed to come back right here. The membership was tremendous affected person with me they usually positively made me really feel very valued and needed. That’s nice as an athlete since you wish to go carry out the place you’re feeling protected.”
Taulelei stated Cole was a welcome addition to the Queens.
“You need to have a look at the entire image to understand her infectious power, professionalism, and a real love for the sport,” Taulelei stated. “Bec suits our tradition. There are ranges on this sport, and her story of resilience is related, and in some methods, explains her will to compete.”
The Queens gained the inaugural Tauihi title in 2022 and have performed in each Grand Last since.
Similar to the Queens, Cole is not any stranger to success and her resume speaks for itself. A two-time WNBL Champion, Flyers membership MVP, NBL1 champion and three×3 FIBA World Cup main scorer. Plus Asia Cup gold and bronze medalist, in addition to Asia Cup MVP.
Cole is understood for her deadly scoring capability, talent to make fast choices below stress and creating alternatives for her teammates. Her management and offensive experience can be large for the Queens this season.
Sport is in Cole’s DNA. Her dad Gary performed for the Socceroos and has labored as an A-League Director.
Rising up Cole’s sisters performed soccer whereas she would go and watch their video games. Because the youngest little one, Cole adopted her sisters wherever they went and was at all times making new pals.
When her sisters have been participating in lengthy leap, she can be on the finish of the sand pit considering she was on the seaside.
She was requested to fill in for a basketball workforce and was hooked. A younger Cole was obsessive about the taking part in uniforms and begged her mum to signal her up for the workforce.
By the point she was 15, she was representing the state in athletics, netball and basketball. However when it was time to commit to 1, she knew immediately it was basketball.
Cole has a detailed bond along with her mother and father who she calls her “finest pals.”
“Dad has been nice my complete profession whether or not he tells me I want to drag my head in and do higher. Or if I want a shoulder to cry on, he’s at all times there with phrases of encouragement and reward,” Cole stated.
“And when Dad was tremendous busy Mum was driving me to all my trainings and with out her I positively wouldn’t be the participant that I’m as we speak.”
In 2019, Cole’s dad Gary was identified with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He’s been in remission for a couple of years now and is doing properly.
Cole grew to become an envoy for Lymphoma Australia as a manner to assist elevate consciousness and provides again.
“It made me realise there’s extra to life than simply placing a ball in a hoop. It’s actually necessary that you simply get round and love the folks which are nearest and dearest. Not everybody has time on their facet,” Cole stated.
“It makes me recognize the sport much more and that I get to play. That’s why after I prepare or play I do it prefer it’s the final time I’m ever going to do it.”
On the courtroom, Cole describes herself as a “smiling murderer.” She prides herself on her ardour and spirit. When she’s in your workforce you already know that she’s going to have your again.
Cole says Tauihi followers can “prepare for some good vibes.
“I’m somebody who could be very aggressive and likes to win. That’s one thing that additionally led me to the Queens. I wish to assist them deliver one other championship again dwelling to Wellington and I wish to get that crown.”
“I wish to deliver my management and expertise, create for my teammates, and be actually aggressive on defence.”
“We now have a terrific captain Stella [Beck] and any manner that she wants me to assist her lead that’s what I wish to do. We’re going to get this accomplished by taking part in as a workforce and that’s one thing I actually take pleasure in.”
Cole has been in Wellington for almost two weeks and has settled in properly to her new dwelling.
“The surroundings is so lovely and I’m mesmerised by New Zealand and what it has to supply. I’ve been within the metropolis and I actually love the vibe, all of the individuals are very nice and I can’t wait to discover extra on our off days.”
Forward of the brand new season, the Queens squad have been welcomed into Takapuwahia Marae in Porirua by Ngāti Toa Rangatira. It was a singular expertise for Cole who additionally bought to strive her first hāngī and says she’s excited to study extra about Māori tradition.
“It was a extremely healthful and exquisite expertise that I felt very privileged to have the chance to do with my teammates and workers,” Cole stated.
Off the courtroom, Cole has labored for basketball.com.au as a contributor and hosted a sequence known as ‘It’s a Cole World.’
She’s keen about utilizing basketball as a automobile to talk her reality.
“It’s actually necessary as you grow old and wiser, you realise you’re greater than only a basketball participant. When you already know that your worth isn’t based mostly on if we win a sport or what number of factors I scored, it’s much more enjoyable to play.”
“I really like that I’ve the chance to have the ability to use basketball as a vessel to shine a lightweight on these wonderful athletes. The ladies earlier than me paved the way in which for me to have what I’ve now. So that you at all times wish to go away the sport in a greater place than you discovered it.”
