Congratulations to college alum and 2010 Head Student Josiah Maama, who has been named as an Assistant Coach for the BNZ Breakers 2026-2027 season.
Most recently, Maama has completed an Assistant Coaching stint with the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Before that, he was part of the coaching team that took the Junior Tall Blacks to an historic 4th-place finish at the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland, the highest world cup placement achieved by a New Zealand basketball team at any age-group FIBA tournament.
Prior to becoming a professional coach, Maama gave back to the college, getting heavily involved in coaching basketball, which is where he got his first taste for it.
“My younger brothers needed a coach,” he says. “Mum said I had to do it, and when a Tongan mum tells her son to do something, you gotta do it!
“In saying that, I’m grateful to Pakūranga College and the opportunities I had to develop as a student and athlete. Coaching was a way to give back, but more so for me, an opportunity to stay involved, hone my craft in the game, and help grow the programme to one that was respected in the city and throughout the country.”
When asked what his proudest basketball achievements at the college are, he pinpoints moments from his time as a student and coach.
“It might be funny now, but winning Most Improved Player as a student was a real highlight. I wasn’t a great player, but I worked my ass off that summer and got better at my craft, and it was nice to be recognised for it.
“We did some cool things too, like qualifying for the Greater Auckland Championships for the first time in school history.
“As a coach, I’d have to say qualifying for nationals for the first time in 2014. I wasn’t much older than some of my Year 13 players, but we managed to beat some national powerhouse schools to qualify for the pinnacle of school basketball. That’s a group of people I always hold dear to my heart in my journey.”
We wish you all the best, Josiah, as you take the next step on your journey. We know there will be plenty more to come.
