PAPEETE (Tahiti) The Cook Islands men’s national team head into the FIBA Polynesian Cup 2026 with a clear target in sight: ending a 19‑year absence from the Pacific Games. For debutant guard Hunter Bates, the tournament represents both a personal milestone and a chance to help shift the trajectory of Cook Islands men's basketball.
Bates’ connection to the Cook Islands jersey runs deep. Both his parents and his younger sister have represented the nation in their own sports, and stepping into the green and white feels like joining a legacy he has admired his whole life. He carries a strong sense of pride in showcasing what Cook Islands athletes can do on the regional stage, determined to highlight the talent and heart of his country.
“Having a chance to showcase what our little nation has to offer and putting our country on the map a little and showing people how much talent the Cook Islands has."
This means more than the world for both me and my family to be able to join them and follow in that legacy. Out of everything I’ve accomplished in my time playing ball this will by far be my most memorable moment.
He hopes fans see that pride reflected in his style of play. “What I hope they see is a kid from Raro giving his all for his country,” he says. “Someone who’s not afraid of the big moments and willing to do anything to win. A real three‑level scorer, someone who’s confident on and off the ball and someone that steps up when needed.”
The Cook Islands men last qualified for the Pacific Games in 2007, a statistic that could easily create pressure. Bates sees it differently. “I’d say there’s nothing to lose but everything to gain,” he says. “People might look at that fact and feel the pressure but I see opportunity, a chance to change history for my country, and that just adds more fuel to the flame. That is why, not just me individually, but we as a team want to do so well.”
Bates’ pathway to the national team includes time in the United States, where he played NCAA basketball at Colby‑Sawyer College after completing prep and postgrad development in Las Vegas. The experience, he says, shaped him in ways that now give him an edge at international level.
“Having played overseas especially at the NCAA level really pushes you as a person to be able to stay disciplined,” he said. “There is just a different level of physicality but also brains needed at that level that you won’t find anywhere else. It pushes you mentally and I’d say that’s a huge advantage I’d have amongst my peers at this up and coming cup.”
His time in college helped refine his scoring and shooting, but the biggest shift came in his mindset. “The skills I developed around scoring and shooting definitely improved and helped build my confidence, but the biggest change I found was my overall confidence and mentality when approaching the game.”
Bates also attended the FIBA Oceania 3x3 High‑Performance Camp in 2024, an experience that broadened his understanding of the regional landscape.
“It gave me a great insight into seeing other nations that I could possibly see in the up and coming Poly Cup,” he says. “I learnt great stuff both on and off the court, whether it was ball skills on the court or nutrition in the classroom.”
As he prepares for his first major FIBA event, Bates is clear about his goals.
Obviously I’m looking for a great result for the team and our country.
“I want to be a great leader and be someone who leads by example that others want to follow. I plan to be someone who wears the green and white uniform with pride.”
His motivation is rooted in family, especially his mother.
“Watching how hard she works and how much time and effort she puts into me and my sister … a nonstop hard worker,” he says. “Watching her makes me want to strive for better, for more, and work harder in both sports and life in general.”
With a debutant’s hunger, a family legacy behind him, and a nation hoping to return to the Pacific Games stage, Hunter Bates steps into the FIBA Polynesian Cup ready to give everything. For him, this tournament is more than an opportunity, it’s a chance to help write a new chapter for Cook Islands men’s basketball.
Men's teams from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti (host) have already qualified for the Pacific Games 2027, with the top two placed teams at the FIBA Polynesian Cup 2026 to also secure their spot.
The 2026 editions of the FIBA Polynesian Cup and FIBA Women's Polynesian Cup will tip-off on October 19 to 24 from Toahotu.