How being cut sparked Folau's gold medal run

• Zodia Folau and Victoria Metro claimed gold at the National Under-16 Championships in Bendigo
• Folau had 23 points in the final, including five triples
• She also represented Samoa at the FIBA Under-15 Oceania Cup

Zodia Folau may be small in stature, but after leading Victoria Metro to gold at the National Under-16 Championships last month, it’s clear that her determination and skill more than make up for what she lacks in height.

The 15-year-old guard took all before her in the run to a gold medal and when her state needed her most in the grand final, she rose to the challenge and delivered one of the most incredible quarters of basketball the nationals have ever seen.

With her team struggling against New South Wales Metro, Folau went to a different level in the third quarter, hitting a ridiculous five triples in a row to help Victoria Metro to a game-changing 30-point third term.

Her shooting display had to be seen to be believed, and even then it was still hard to comprehend. Folau finished with a game-high 23 points on super-efficient shooting (9-from-16 from the field and 5-from-8 on threes), to go along with three rebounds and three assists as Victoria Metro claimed the gold with a 77-61 win.

At half-time, she knew as captain she needed to lift and that’s exactly what she did.

“Big credit to New South Wales... Honestly, in the locker room a few of us did have our heads down, but that's when we picked up one another," Folau told basketball.com.au.

“As captain, a big role of mine was to lift up my teammates and just go out there with confidence.”

Her three-point barrage in the biggest game of the tournament didn’t happen due to luck, those that have watched Folau play know she’s capable of going off at any given moment.

“It was honestly one of my best basketball experiences,” she said.

“Just knowing that the girls were around me and trying to find me was pretty great.

“On a big stage like that, it tells me that my hard work is paying off right now and it's one of the best feelings. The adrenaline doesn't catch you until after you've actually hit them, so then it's just like, ‘whoa’.”

After not making the team last year, Folau was determined to make a difference, spurred on by that disappointment.

“Being cut last year and then watching that team lose, it really sparked something inside me,” she said.

“I just wanted to go out there and get it this year and I think the connection within the group of girls we had was so good.

“We all bonded really well on and off the court, and that just really helped during the tournament — we were there to pick up one another.”

Folau began her basketball journey at the Craigieburn Eagles Basketball Association, before moving to the Diamond Valley Basketball Association and highlights both clubs as being pivotal in her development.

“Craigieburn was a really good starting point for me,” she said.

“They really helped my development and then as soon as I moved to Diamond Valley, we had a pretty strong team.

“It just really helped because we had four girls from my Diamond Valley team in the state team, so obviously the chemistry was already built up there.”

She also credits her parents, and coaches Brenton O'Brien, Trevor Burnette, and Madie Lee for playing huge roles in helping her develop into the player she is today.

The player she is today is a guard who moves with a killer instinct and will never back down from a challenge. Often the smallest player on the court, Folau was the equal third-leading rebounder for Victoria Metro and is always willing to battle amongst the trees to help her team gain the edge.

She’s relentless and her desire to compete, on both ends, makes her a unique proposition to deal with. She’ll guard full-court, providing stifling defence that annoys opponents, while on the other end she’s a willing passer who creates opportunities for her teammates, but who can also score for herself, as New South Wales Metro found out.

Averaging 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 assists per game across the tournament, Folau was a constant force for the undefeated Victoria Metro squad.

Representing Samoa at last year’s FIBA Under-15 Oceania Cup in Canberra was another moment where Folau gained valuable experience. Making it all the way to the bronze medal game, Samoa ultimately fell short to Tonga, 75-68, but Folau did all she could, finishing with 14 points, eight rebounds, six steals and five assists.

“That tournament gave me so much confidence, just being on an international stage, and that really helped in nationals,” she said.

“It was obviously scary at the start knowing that we're from a small island and there's the likes of Australia and New Zealand, but it was really fun.

“Losing that bronze medal game put a fire in me because I really just wanted to work on my game after that.”

When you think of undersized guards who excel, they often have one thing in common: an undeniable competitiveness. That is certainly the case for Folau, and she highlights two players she looks up to, who very much fit that mould.

“I really like Georgia Amoore and Abbey Ellis because I feel like it’s heart over height for both players,” she said.

“Like them, while I might be small, I believe I have a huge impact on the floor. I can find teammates on a pass, I'll set up plays for my teammates, and I'll hustle for my team.”

That hustle and heart has led Folau to having very real conversations about living out a childhood dream in the coming years; playing college basketball in the USA.

“Going to college is one my top dreams,” she said.

“It's actually unreal just knowing that I could actually have a chance to go to college, which has been just a big dream of mine.”

While it’s still a dream and a goal at this stage, the work ethic and grit that Folau displays means that with each day her dreams inch closer and closer to becoming reality.

About the Author

Hayley Wildes is passionate about all things Australian women’s basketball and loves to highlight the stories of players from all levels and competitions across the globe. From our own backyard in the WNBL, to the WNBA and the Opals, and everything in between, Hayley has you covered.