WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7pm (AEDT) via , or catch up via , or at the top of this article.
A burgeoning star of the court with US College powerhouse Syracuse, Mangakahia had her world turned upside in June 2019 after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
The shocking news came only weeks after the then 24-year-old had been named in the Opals training squad for the Tokyo Olympics.
Instead of pushing her claim for Olympic selection on the court with the national team, the Brisbane-born point guard was undergoing chemotherapy.
Mangakahia’s basketball hopes and dreams were put on hold as she underwent eight rounds of treatment, followed by a double mastectomy and then reconstructive surgery.
In November 2020, Doctors gave Mangakahia the good news that she was free of cancer and by January 2020 she was given the all-clear to return to the court and kickstart her basketball career.
However, fate had different plans - and Mangakahia’s return to competitive basketball was put on ice for another 12 months as the global coronavirus pandemic forced her to return to Australia after the US College season was cancelled.
What did work in her favour was the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, which gave the talented young star an unlikely second chance at making the Opals team for the Games.
Mangakahia’s desire to represent her country is stronger than ever, and while she will be doing all she can to earn a spot in the Australian Olympic team, the brave Queenslander is grateful to just be able to play the game she loves.
“To still have a chance of being a part of the Opals squad and possibly go to the Olympics one day is something I just can’t fathom,” Mangakahia said.
“After everything I have been through, If I ever get to pull on the Australian team jersey, it will just mean so much to me.
“Even if don’t get that opportunity I still look at every day as a blessing. I just love this sport and being able to play this game just makes me so happy.”
The interview was the latest as part of new SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1 hosted by Megan Hustwaite, giving fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show - every Thursday at 7pm (AEDT) - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
WATCH the next episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite on Thursday, January 28 at 7pm (AEDT) via , or catch up via .
Mangakahia discussed numerous topics with Hustwaite, including the following:
0:35 - How Tiana is going
1:20 - Learning of her Opals selection in 2019
2:34 - Discovering she had a lump in her breast and receiving a cancer diagnosis
4:38 - Telling her parents she had breast cancer
5:32 - The incredible support of the basketball family
6:49 - How Tiana reflects on her cancer journey now
7:10 - Losing her hair
9:56 - How she kept in touch with basketball when she couldn’t train or play
10:15 - Receiving a positive diagnosis
12:20 - Returning to basketball in November 2020
14:56 - What playing in an Olympics one day would mean
SBS is broadcasting multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the 2020-21 NBL season is LIVE, FREE and in HD via , with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
