The Brydens Sydney Uni Flames are excited to announce the re-signing of one of Australian basketballs best young talents, 16 year old NSW junior, Tahlia Tupaea for the 2013/14 WNBL season.
Tupaea, who back in October last year became the second youngest debutant in WNBL history when she played against the West Coast Waves at just 15 years and 133 days of age, finished the 2012/13 WNBL season with nine impressive games to her name.
The Penrith junior was excited to re-sign with the Flames, a club that she has been involved with since she was 13 as part of the Sydney Uni Flames inaugural Academy Program – which is a large part of the club’s ongoing commitment to developing elite young NSW female athletes.
“I learnt so much from the two years that I was involved in the program, and then playing in the WNBL last season was also an excellent experience for me.” said Tupaea.
I feel like I have improved a lot over the last 12 months.”
Her improvement with the Flames earned her a spot on the bronze medal winning Australian Gems U19 World Championships team in Lithuania in July.
“I wasn’t expecting to get much playing time and it was great to win the bronze medal,” said Tupaea.
It was an opportunity that she took with both hands, explains her Brydens Sydney Uni Flames Head Coach, Karen Dalton.
“You can see in our pre-season training that Tahlia has benefited greatly from experience at the under 19 World Championships,” said Dalton.
“Despite only just turning 16, she played an important role.”
She is set to play another important role with the Australian under 17 women’s team that will do battle against New Zealand in Melbourne later this month in a three match series to qualify for the FIBA 2014 Under 17 Women’s World Championships.
The 174 centimeter back-up point-guard’s meteoric rise is also expected to continue in this seasons WNBL with the Flames.
“Tahlia will certainly have an increased role with the Flames this season,” explains Dalton.
“We are hoping that with some increased minutes on the court, Tahlia will get some consistency from playing week-in and week-out. I am very excited about the direction Tahlia is heading.”
The Brydens Sydney Uni Flames will play their first 2013/14 WNBL home game against the Dandenong Rangers at Brydens Stadium (at the Sydney Uni Sports & Aquatic Centre in Darlington) on Friday October 11 at 7.30pm.
Click here to see the full 2013/14 WNBL season schedule.
