Manawatū Jets touch down at Massey in preseason clash

Students and staff were treated to a courtside view, with the Jets going down to the Hawks despite a strong offensive performance. Hamza Zahran and Kaden Sand led the scoring for the Jets in their first appearance together in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The game was part of a full day of activity at the Recreation Centre, with group fitness sessions, a pickleball tournament, food vendors and student activities helping to create a strong weekend buzz on campus.

Manager Recreation and Fitness Manawatū Ron Werner says hosting the Jets reflects the growing relationship between the university and the franchise.

“Our partnership with the Jets continues to grow and provides real value for both organisations. It was fantastic to welcome the team back into the Recreation Centre and bring this level of basketball onto campus for our students and staff,” Mr Werner says.

The Jets regularly use Massey’s Recreation Centre for training, health screening, fitness testing and strength and conditioning, while the collaboration also supports student-athlete pathways and community engagement initiatives.

According to Jets Chief Executive Dave Craig, the partnership with Massey plays a key role in the club’s wider vision.

“Our partnership with Massey University is a key part of what we’re building at the Jets. It’s not just about basketball – it’s about creating opportunities, connecting with young people and embedding the team within the wider Manawatū community,” Mr Craig says.

“Bringing our preseason game and weekly trainings into that environment allows our players to engage directly with students and helps inspire the next generation, whether that’s in sport, study or both.”

As the Jets build toward the 2026 NBL season, Massey looks forward to continuing the partnership and supporting future opportunities to bring high-performance sport and community engagement onto campus.