Legacy of late basketball star remembered

When their daughter braved a cancer diagnosis to complete one final chapter on the court, Tiana Mangakahia’s family was overcome with emotion. The tears continue, a year on from her death, but come equipped with a rally cause in her honour.

“She was a girl who loved life, she loved basketball – ever since a ball got in her hand, she knew that’s what she wanted to do, and I think you need to have that kind of drive if you’re going to be a professional sports person,” Mangakahia’s mother, Cynthia, said.

“It has to be in your soul, and it was in T.”

The former Opals guard tragically lost her battle with breast cancer last September, leaving a gaping void in the basketball community. Her career had extended across Australia and to Russia, France and America.

The Asia Cup bronze medallist first received her diagnosis shortly after being included in the country’s preliminary squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Her father Terei spoke proudly of her accomplishments at Syracuse University, where she became the first player from the school to achieve the points-rebounds-assists triple in a clash against North Carolina (34-10-10), broke the institution’s record for most single-game assists (17) and left with more career assists than anyone through its halls.

Mangakahia underwent a double mastectomy, followed by reconstructive surgery – choosing to stay in the United States and eventually making a Syracuse comeback – and was later declared cancer free.

The cancer would return in 2023, and while she made a shock return in 2025 via the Southern District Spartans’ NBL1 North side – a moment Terei said brought “the whole family there” – her health quickly deteriorated.

She died in Brisbane on September 11 aged just 30, also leaving behind five brothers.

“[She was] a warrior. Just seeing her show up every night for trainings and games, you can only from the outside looking in see so much, but the way she carried herself was a true professional,” said Bullets star Tyrell Harrison, who grew up with Mangakahia and was at Spartans during her final season.

“No one should ever have to go through that, but the way she handled it and mentally prepared herself for trainings and games was unbelievable. It was amazing to just be a part of her life.”

Bullets skipper Mitch Norton, who got to know Mangakahia during their shared time in Townsville more than a decade ago, added it was evident she would ascend to the Opals’ ranks.

“The way she approached the game, the energy and effort she played with, it was contagious,” he said.

As they mourned her loss, Magakahia’s family launched Tough4T – a charity providing funding for young women suffering from breast cancer.

On Thursday, when the Bullets clash with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, proceeds raised from the auctioning of pink warm up shirts will go directly to the initiative. Sponsors will also make donations for each three-pointer.

It is an idea, Cynthia said, that was first proposed by Mangakahia before her passing.

“It can be really difficult for us sometimes, but we know that it’s really important, and Tiana taught us that. She taught us this was important, and something she started to get the ball rolling on before her passing,” she said with a quiver in her voice.

“She started saying when you’re young and get breast cancer, you don’t have long-service leave built up, you don’t have sick leave built up, you don’t have the things you often have later in life. She was saying how incredibly hard that is to manage that financially, you usually have to work part-time.

“This legacy she is leaving to help young women in the same situation as her … she was a remarkable person, and we’re so pleased to continue her legacy.”

Thursday’s cause may be the motivational injection needed to reshape the Bullets’ NBL campaign, having started the season with back-to-back wins only to drop their past three encounters.

They will need to arrest their slide without leading point guard Arnas Velicka, who is poised to be sidelined for eights weeks after suffering a shoulder injury against the Taipans. The Lithuanian marquee man leads the competition for assists.

“He’s a massive key player to this team, but I trust our medical staff to make sure he recovers, rehabs well and comes back fitter and stronger than ever,” Harrison said.

“It’s on not only me, but the rest of the team to take that extra step forward.”

Bullets chief executive Mal Watts added: “He’s in really great spirits, he’ll do his time, and we look forward to having him back.”

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