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'''Phoenix Tahiti''' is a competitive [[paintball]] team from [[French Polynesia]]. Established in 2009, the team has participated in international paintball competitions across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America, including the [[Paintball Asia League Series]] (PALS), the [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] (NZPPL), the [[National Xball League]] (NXL) and the French national paintball championship.


'''Phoenix Tahiti''' (also known as '''Phœnix Tahiti''', '''Phoenix Authority''' and '''Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan''') is a competitive paintball team based in [[Tahiti]], French Polynesia. Founded in '''2009''', the team has competed internationally in Asia, Oceania and North America.
The organisation has competed under several names, including '''Phoenix Authority''', '''Phoenix Tahiti''' and '''Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan'''. Its broader history also includes earlier Tahitian representative squads, including '''Fei Pi 1923''' and '''Tahitian Legion''', which shared players with Phoenix Tahiti.


Phoenix Tahiti has participated in competitions organised by the [[Paintball Asia League Series]] (PALS), [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]] (NZPPL), [[Almost Famous Paintball League]] (AFPL) and [[National Xball League]] (NXL).
The team has regularly assembled international rosters combining players from French Polynesia with competitors from other countries. [[Ralph Tsing]] has been one of its most extensively documented players and organisers.


'''Ralph Tsing''' has been a long-standing captain and organiser of the team, with his leadership dating to at least 2010 according to firsthand recollections from former teammate [[Michael Earley]].[2]
Documented achievements include fifth place at World Cup Asia in 2017, third place at the New Zealand Race Series in 2023, second place in Division 5 X-Ball at the 2025 NXL World Cup, and a reported second-place finish at the 2026 French Paintball Championship.
 
Phoenix Tahiti competed under the alternative name '''Phoenix Authority''' at the 2012 Paintball World Cup Asia. Original tournament accreditation cards document six players associated with this entry, including Tsing and Earley.[2][3]
 
The team's international achievements include fourth place at the 2014 NZPPL International Pacific Championship, fifth place at the 2017 World Cup Asia, third place at the 2023 New Zealand Race Series finale and '''second place in Division 5 X-Ball at the 2025 NXL World Cup'''.[4][7][9]


== History ==
== History ==
Line 15: Line 12:
=== Formation ===
=== Formation ===


Phoenix Tahiti was established in '''2009''' by three friends who wanted to form a competitive paintball team combining players from different existing teams.
Phoenix Tahiti was founded in 2009 by three friends in French Polynesia.


The team's original public description emphasised enjoying the sport and bringing players together.[1]
According to the team's own historical description, its founders wanted to assemble a squad consisting of players from different established teams, with an emphasis on enjoying paintball and competing together. [1]


Phoenix Tahiti developed within the French Polynesian paintball community, initially participating in local activities before establishing an international tournament presence.
The organisation developed international connections with players and tournament operators across the Pacific region, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.


Its historical PBLeagues profile identifies '''Tahiti Ultimate Paintball''' in Punaauia as its home field.[4]
[[Ralph Tsing]] became one of the team's most prominent international representatives, helping assemble squads for overseas tournaments and maintaining relationships with other competitive teams.


=== Ralph Tsing ===
The team's historical PBLeagues profile identifies Tahiti Ultimate Paintball in Punaauia, French Polynesia, as an associated field. The profile was registered on 2 September 2013, although the organisation's history predates that registration. [2]


'''Ralph Tsing''' has been closely associated with Phoenix Tahiti throughout its international tournament history.
=== Team names and international participation ===


Former teammate Michael Earley recalls Tsing serving as team captain from at least '''2010'''.[2]
Phoenix Tahiti's tournament history includes several related team names.


Tsing has continued to organise international tournament participation and has been involved in assembling teams for events outside French Polynesia.
The names Phoenix Authority, Phoenix Tahiti and Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan have been used by squads associated with the organisation.


His role in organising Phoenix Tahiti's 2023 New Zealand Race Series squad is independently documented in a contemporary interview published by Air Tahiti Nui.[7]
Earlier Tahitian teams, including Fei Pi 1923 and Tahitian Legion, included players who subsequently competed for Phoenix Tahiti.


The exact date on which he first became captain has not been independently established.
Although these earlier teams shared identifiable players, the surviving records do not establish that every name represented the same formally registered organisation.


== Early international competition ==
Their appearances are included in the broader history of Phoenix Tahiti while preserving the individual team names used at each tournament.


=== World Cup Asia, 2012 ===
The organisation has also relied upon international cooperation to assemble squads for overseas competitions. Its rosters have included players from Tahiti, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Germany and South Africa.


Phoenix Tahiti competed at the '''2012 Paintball World Cup Asia''' under the alternative name '''Phoenix Authority'''.
== Early Tahitian international competition ==


Original tournament accreditation cards preserved in the personal collection of Michael Earley identify a '''Division 2''' entry registered as Phoenix Authority.[3]
=== World Cup Asia 2011: Fei Pi 1923 ===


Earley, who played with Phoenix Tahiti during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, confirms that Phoenix Authority was simply an alternative team name, rather than a separate organisation or combined squad.[2]
A Tahitian team competed in Division 1 at the 2011 Paintball World Cup Asia, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 10 to 13 November.


The photograph documents six named player credentials and three additional support credentials.
The squad appeared in pre-tournament registration announcements as Team Fei-Pi-Tahiti and in the original PALS rankings as Fei Pi 1923.


These records establish an international tournament appearance predating the team's September 2013 registration in PBLeagues.
A registration announcement published on 24 September 2011 by PALS International Liaison Director Allan Phang confirms the team's participation. [3]


The team's final placing at the 2012 tournament has not yet been recovered.
The identified roster included:


=== World Cup Asia, 2013 ===
* [[Ralph Tsing]]
* Tafai Rai
* Christian Veroux
* Alexis Holman
* Bryce Carpentier
* Josh Alvarado


Phoenix Tahiti competed at the '''2013 NAZA World Cup Asia''' in Malaysia from '''15 to 17 November 2013'''.
Fei Pi 1923 finished 19th among 21 Division 1 teams at World Cup Asia, earning 24 ranking points.


The team entered '''Division 3 RaceTo-2''' and finished '''47th of 54 teams'''.[4]
The squad finished 22nd in the overall 2011 PALS Division 1 season rankings. [4]


This is the earliest Phoenix Tahiti tournament entry in its surviving PBLeagues team history.
The appearance documents international competition by several players subsequently associated with Phoenix Tahiti.


Michael Earley also recalls competing with Phoenix Tahiti during the 2013 season.[2]
The precise organisational relationship between Fei Pi 1923 and Phoenix Tahiti has not been established.


The available records do not establish a complete player roster for the November 2013 tournament.
=== NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera 2012: Tahitian Legion ===


== Competition in New Zealand ==
A Tahitian squad competed at the second event of the 2012 New Zealand Paintball Players League season, held in Hāwera, Taranaki, New Zealand.


=== NZPPL International Pacific Championship, 2014 ===
The squad was known as Tahitian Legion, although the original handwritten tournament scoreboard recorded the entry simply as Tahiti.


Phoenix Tahiti competed at the '''NZPPL International Pacific Championship''' in Auckland on '''25–26 October 2014'''.
Contemporary photographs identify six players wearing matching black jerseys:


The team entered '''Division 1 RaceTo-4''' and finished '''fourth of eight teams'''.[4]
* Shane Gallagher (#25), a New Zealand player guesting for the team
* Mani Voirin (#16)
* Christian Veroux (#88)
* [[Ralph Tsing]] (#27)
* Keke Brodien (#14)
* Manaurii Bousquet (#01)


This was an early documented top-four international finish for Phoenix Tahiti.
The team competed in the Cup section against ADHD, Arachnids, D4, Hybrid, Tempest, Those Guys and Tiger Blood.


The event also strengthened connections between the Tahitian team and the New Zealand tournament community.
The original scoreboard records Tahiti fourth after seven scoring rounds, with 329 points.


=== Asylum Paintball Cup, 2015 ===
The scoreboard also identifies a third-place playoff between Tahiti and Tiger Blood. The final result of that match has not been established. [5]


Phoenix Tahiti returned to Auckland for the '''Asylum Paintball Cup''' on '''26–27 September 2015'''.
A separate team named Phoenix competed in the Plate section of the same tournament. This was a Wellington, New Zealand team and was not Phoenix Tahiti.


The event was held at [[Asylum Paintball]] in South Auckland.
Tahitian Legion's participation provides early documentation of Tahitian players competing in New Zealand, including individuals who also represented Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia later that year.


The team competed in '''Open RaceTo-4'''.[4]
=== Organised paintball in Tahiti, 2012 ===


PBLeagues confirms the team's entry but does not provide a final placing in its surviving team results.
Surviving competitor identification cards from a paintball event in Tahiti in 2012 provide additional evidence of organised local competitive paintball.


=== Auckland Paintball Cup, 2016 ===
The cards carry Fédération de Paintball branding and identify the association Papara Paintball.


Phoenix Tahiti competed at the '''Auckland Paintball Cup''' on '''16–17 April 2016'''.
Eight registered competitors are documented:


The team entered '''Division 2 X-Ball''' and finished '''seventh of eight teams'''.[4]
* Nicolas Mesnard
 
* Teute Puairau
The tournament represented another appearance in the Auckland competition circuit.
* Christian Veroux
 
* [[Ralph Tsing]]
=== New Zealand Race Series, 2023 ===
* Heimanu Souday
 
* Joinville Souday
Phoenix Tahiti returned to New Zealand in October 2023 for the final round of the '''New Zealand Race Series'''.
* Tuarii Souday
 
* Tamatoa Lepean
The event took place at '''Arena Paintball''' in Feilding.
 
Ralph Tsing assembled the squad following an invitation from tournament organiser David Hopkins.[7]
 
The team included five players from French Polynesia and two international players.


Phoenix Tahiti finished the preliminary stage with six victories, one draw and one defeat.
These records establish the players' association with Papara Paintball in 2012 but do not independently establish that every cardholder competed for Phoenix Tahiti. [6]


The team advanced to the semifinals against Ballistic Unit.
== Paintball Asia League Series ==


After recovering from a 2–0 deficit to lead 3–2, Phoenix Tahiti finished regulation time tied 3–3.
=== World Cup Asia 2012: Phoenix Authority ===


Ballistic Unit won the deciding sudden-death point.
Phoenix Authority competed at the 2012 Paintball World Cup Asia, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, as part of the Paintball Asia League Series.


Phoenix Tahiti subsequently defeated Charcharodons '''3–0''' in the third-place playoff.
The team competed in Division 2 with a multinational roster.


The result secured '''third place of nine teams'''.[7]
A contemporary report in ''La Dépêche de Tahiti'', titled "Une honorable 17e place", identified the following players:


== Competition in Asia ==
* [[Ralph Tsing]] (Tahiti)
* Christian Veroux (Tahiti)
* Moana Le Foc (Tahiti)
* Michael Earley (New Zealand)
* Tim Matthee (Australia)
* Badman Bud (Malaysia)
* Ku Zambree (Malaysia)


=== Paintball Asia League Series ===
The newspaper reported that the squad had been unable to assemble a complete Tahitian lineup and therefore recruited international teammates. [7]


Phoenix Tahiti has maintained connections with the [[Paintball Asia League Series]] (PALS), participating in tournaments that attracted teams from across Asia, Oceania and other regions.
Phoenix Authority finished 17th out of 28 teams in Division 2.


The team's international competition history includes several events in Malaysia and Thailand.
The original tournament preliminary standings record the squad in 17th position, with 2.5 competition points, nine sets won and 12 sets lost.


=== World Cup Asia, 2017 ===
The contemporary newspaper report also confirms the team's 17th-place finish.


Phoenix Tahiti competed under the name '''Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan''' at the '''2017 Paintball World Cup Asia''' in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The appearance demonstrates the team's early use of multinational rosters and the international connections that would continue throughout its history.


The tournament took place from '''10 to 12 November 2017'''.
=== World Cup Asia 2013: Phoenix Tahiti ===


The team finished '''fifth of sixteen teams''' in '''Division 3 RaceTo-2'''.[4]
Phoenix Tahiti returned to World Cup Asia in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 15 to 17 November 2013.


This was one of its strongest documented Asian tournament results.
The team competed in Division 3.


=== George Town International X-Ball Cup, 2018 ===
==== Team roster ====


Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan competed at the '''George Town International X-Ball Cup''' in Malaysia on '''19 October 2018'''.
The complete six-player roster was:


The team entered '''Amateur Division 2 RaceTo-4'''.
* [[Ralph Tsing]] (Tahiti)
* Ku Zambree (Malaysia)
* Moana Le Foc (Tahiti)
* Sasha Dworatschek (Germany)
* Mando Hazree (Malaysia)
* Michael Earley (New Zealand)


It finished '''fifth of seventeen teams'''.[4]
The squad included two Tahitian players, two Malaysian players, one German player and one New Zealand player.


=== World Paintball Championship, 2019 ===
Several members had previously played together for Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia 2012.


Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan entered the '''2019 World Paintball Championship''' in Thailand.
The roster has been documented through firsthand testimony from a participating player.


The competition took place from '''29 November to 1 December 2019'''.
==== Tournament results ====


The team entered '''Division 3 X-Ball, Mercy Limit 2'''.[4]
The original 2013 PALS Division 3 rankings record Phoenix Tahiti finishing 47th at World Cup Asia, earning 31 ranking points.


Its PBLeagues event listing confirms participation but does not provide a final team placing.
The team finished 57th in the overall 2013 PALS Division 3 season standings, which listed 65 teams. [8]


== Competition in the United States ==
PBLeagues independently confirms a final event placing of 47th among 54 teams in Division 3. [2]


=== Almost Famous Paintball League, 2016 ===
The original PALS ranking and PBLeagues historical records use different points scales, although both identify the same final event position.


Phoenix Tahiti competed at the '''Almost Famous Paintball League (AFPL) SoCal Chaos #3''' tournament in Southern California on '''10–11 September 2016'''.
=== World Cup Asia 2017: Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan ===


The team entered '''Division 4 RaceTo-3''' and finished '''eighth of eight teams'''.[4][6]
Phoenix Tahiti returned to World Cup Asia from 10 to 12 November 2017 at The ARC, Bandar Rimbayu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.


Former Phoenix Tahiti player [[Michael Earley]] was living in San Diego at the time.
The team competed in Division 3, which featured 16 entrants.


He attended the same tournament as a member of [[SD Crush]], meaning he was unable to compete for Phoenix Tahiti on that occasion.[2]
The original tournament scoreboards use the name Phoenix Tahiti, while the historical PBLeagues registration identifies the squad as Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan, a later version of the team name. [2]


The event was a documented appearance for Phoenix Tahiti in American tournament competition.
==== Preliminary round ====


=== NXL World Cup, 2025 ===
Phoenix Tahiti was placed in Group B alongside Splatmasters, BT D' Aquarian, Duck Vader, Octosquad, Order 66, KSM Paintballers and Hardinsert.


Phoenix Tahiti achieved one of its most significant international results at the '''2025 NXL World Cup''' in Kissimmee, Florida.
The team finished second in the group.


The event took place from '''12 to 16 November 2025'''.
Its recorded preliminary statistics were:


Phoenix Tahiti entered '''Division 5 X-Ball''' and advanced to the championship final.[9]
* Competition points: 6
* Sets won: 11
* Sets lost: 5
* Set differential: +6


The team won three of its four preliminary matches before progressing through the elimination rounds.
The result qualified Phoenix Tahiti for the second round. [9]


=== Preliminary results ===
==== Second round ====


{| class="wikitable"
Phoenix Tahiti advanced to Group Z alongside Raptor Brunei, Octosquad and Order 66.


! Opponent
The team finished first in the group, winning all six sets played.
 
! Result
 
|-
 
| BR Barbies
 
| Won 3–0
 
|-


| Filthy Few
Its recorded statistics were:


| Won 3–1
* Competition points: 3
* Sets won: 6
* Sets lost: 0
* Set differential: +6


|-
Phoenix Tahiti advanced to the quarterfinals.


| SoCal Havoc MOB
==== Quarterfinals ====


| Won 3–0
Phoenix Tahiti faced Order 66 in the quarterfinals.


|-
Order 66 won the match by two sets to one, eliminating Phoenix Tahiti from the competition.


| APF Family
Phoenix Tahiti finished fifth overall out of 16 Division 3 teams. [2][9]


| Lost 2–3
The leading Division 3 teams were:


|}
* Champion: Kejahatan Aisawan
* First runner-up: BT D' Aquarian
* Second runner-up: Splatmasters
* Third runner-up: Order 66


=== Elimination rounds ===
Kejahatan Aisawan was a separate competing team from Phoenix Tahiti, despite the use of the Aisawan name in Phoenix Tahiti's historical registration.


Phoenix Tahiti subsequently defeated:
==== Tahitian and Malaysian combined team ====


{| class="wikitable"
Phoenix Tahiti's fifth-place finish received coverage in ''La Dépêche de Tahiti'' on 15 November 2017.


! Opponent
The article, titled "Cinquième place pour le team Tahiti-Malaisie", identified [[Ralph Tsing]] and Torea Adams as the Tahitian players who participated in the competition. [10]


! Result
According to the report, the team had originally intended to travel with a complete Tahitian squad.


|-
Financial limitations prevented sufficient players from travelling, and the organisers arranged for the Tahitian competitors to join Malaysian players.


| Thunderducks
Tsing described the fifth-place finish as a positive achievement, particularly because the combined squad had been assembled specifically for the tournament and had not previously trained together.


| Won 3–0
The newspaper published a photograph of five players representing the combined team.


|-
The identities of the Malaysian players in the photograph have not been independently established.


| Revolution
=== George Town International X-Ball Cup 2018 ===


| Won 2–1
Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan competed in the George Town International X-Ball Cup in Malaysia on 19 October 2018.


|-
The squad entered the Amateur division and finished fifth out of 17 teams.


| Texas Rampage
The result is recorded in the team's historical PBLeagues profile. [2]


| Won 4–1
=== World Paintball Championship 2019 ===


|-
Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan was registered for the World Paintball Championship in Thailand, held from 29 November to 1 December 2019.


| SoCal Havoc Misfits
The team entered WPC Division 3 under the Mercy Limit 2 format.


| Won 3–0
PBLeagues confirms the team's participation but does not provide a final placing. [2]


|}
== New Zealand competitions ==


The victory against SoCal Havoc Misfits secured the team's place in the Division 5 championship final.[9]
=== International Pacific Championship 2014 ===


=== Championship final ===
Phoenix Tahiti competed in the NZPPL International Pacific Championship at Asylum Paintball in Kingseat, Auckland, on 25 and 26 October 2014.


Phoenix Tahiti faced '''Protocol D5''' in the final.
The team entered Division 1 X-Ball and finished fourth out of eight participating teams. [2]


Protocol D5 won '''4–2'''.
Contemporary team photographs identify several Tahitian players associated with this appearance, including [[Ralph Tsing]], Matatini Wong Chou, Christian Theroux and Torea Adams.


Phoenix Tahiti therefore finished '''second in Division 5 X-Ball''' at the 2025 NXL World Cup.[9]
=== Asylum Paintball Cup 2015 ===


The result was a major international achievement for the team.
Phoenix Tahiti returned to New Zealand for the Asylum Paintball Cup on 26 and 27 September 2015.


It was a divisional result rather than an overall professional championship title.
The team entered the Open X-Ball division.


== Players and personnel ==
The appearance is recorded by PBLeagues, although no final placing is provided in the historical team profile. [2]


Phoenix Tahiti has included players from French Polynesia and other countries throughout its international tournament history.
=== Auckland Paintball Cup 2016 ===


Its composition has varied between competitions.
Phoenix Tahiti competed in the Auckland Paintball Cup on 16 and 17 April 2016.


The following records identify players associated with specific tournaments or, where complete event rosters are unavailable, their last recorded appearances in PBLeagues.
The team entered Division 2 X-Ball and finished seventh out of eight teams. [2]


A player's last recorded event does not establish participation in every earlier tournament entered by the team.
=== New Zealand League Series 2019 ===


=== World Cup Asia, 2012 ===
Contemporary photographic material documents additional Phoenix Tahiti activity at Asylum Paintball in Auckland during the New Zealand League Series in 2019.


The original 2012 World Cup Asia accreditation photograph identifies six players under the Phoenix Authority team name.
A photograph published on 10 March 2019 identifies the team in connection with NZLS Event 1.


{| class="wikitable"
A final tournament placing has not been established from the available records. [11]


|+ Phoenix Authority – World Cup Asia, 2012
=== New Zealand Race Series 2023 ===


! Player
In October 2023, Phoenix Tahiti competed in the final round of the New Zealand Race Series at Arena Paintball in Feilding, New Zealand.


! Evidence
The competition attracted nine teams.


|-
At the invitation of event organiser David Hopkins, [[Ralph Tsing]] assembled an international Phoenix Tahiti squad comprising five Tahitian players and two international teammates.


| '''Ralph Tsing'''
The documented roster included:


| Division 2 player accreditation
* Ralph Tsing (Tahiti)
* Torea Adams (Tahiti)
* Steven Wong (Tahiti)
* Emrick Amaru (Tahiti)
* Kevin Brodien (Tahiti)
* Brandon Miller (Australia)
* Jarryd Fouche (South Africa)


|-
The team's participation was documented in an interview with Tsing published by Air Tahiti Nui on 31 October 2023. [12]


| '''Moana Lei Foc'''
Phoenix Tahiti completed the preliminary stage with six victories, one draw and one defeat.


| Division 2 player accreditation
The team advanced to the semifinals against Ballistics Unit.


|-
After trailing 2-0, Phoenix Tahiti recovered to take a 3-2 lead before the match finished 3-3 in regulation time.


| '''Christian Veroux'''
Ballistics Unit won the deciding sudden-death point.


| Division 2 player accreditation
Phoenix Tahiti subsequently defeated the Charcharodons 3-0 in the third-place playoff, securing third place overall.


|-
The tournament was won by Expendables, who defeated Ballistics Unit 3-0 in the final.


| '''[[Michael Earley]]'''
Tsing had previously played with Expendables during the first two rounds of the 2023 New Zealand Race Series. Those appearances were separate from the Phoenix Tahiti team entered for the final round.


| Division 2 player accreditation
== United States competitions ==


|-
=== AFPL SoCal Chaos 2016 ===


| '''Ku Zambiri'''
Phoenix Tahiti competed in the American Federation of Paintball Leagues SoCal Chaos #3 tournament on 10 and 11 September 2016.


| Division 2 player accreditation
The team entered Division 4 X-Ball and finished eighth out of eight teams. [2]


|-
=== NXL World Cup 2025 ===


| '''Tim Matthee'''
Phoenix Tahiti competed at the 2025 National Xball League World Cup, held in Kissimmee, Florida, United States, from 12 to 16 November.


| Division 2 player accreditation
The team entered Division 5 X-Ball.


|}
Phoenix Tahiti completed its preliminary schedule with three victories and one defeat before advancing to the elimination rounds.


Source: Original World Cup Asia accreditation photograph, 2012.[3]
The team's elimination-stage results included:


The photograph also shows:
* Defeated Thunderducks, 3-0
* Defeated Revolution, 2-1
* Defeated Texas Rampage, 4-1
* Defeated SoCal Havoc Misfits, 3-0


* Two unnamed pit-crew credentials
Phoenix Tahiti advanced to the Division 5 X-Ball final against Protocol D5.


* One unnamed coach credential
Protocol D5 won the championship match 4-2, leaving Phoenix Tahiti as the division's runner-up. [13]


The credentials establish the named players' registrations, but do not independently confirm that every accredited player entered a match.
The result attracted media coverage in French Polynesia and represented a significant achievement for the team at one of the sport's largest international tournaments.


=== World Cup Asia, 2013 ===
== European competitions ==


Michael Earley confirms that he was involved with Phoenix Tahiti during the '''2013 season''', following his 2012 participation.[2]
=== French Paintball Championship 2026 ===


The team's PBLeagues entry confirms participation in the November World Cup Asia tournament.
Phoenix Tahiti competed at the 2026 Championnat de France, organised by the Fédération Française de Paintball in Dreux, France, from 5 to 7 June 2026.


However, the available records do not establish a complete roster or independently connect each historical member to that particular event.
The championship was held at the paintball complex on Chemin Notre Dame de la Ronde in Dreux. [14]


=== NZPPL International Pacific Championship, 2014 ===
The team's participation is documented through its own contemporary social media coverage, including photographs published under the title "Championnat de France 2026".


The historical PBLeagues membership records identify the following player whose last recorded event with the team was the 2014 NZPPL International Pacific Championship:
Players associated with the appearance included:


* '''Lepean Tamatoa'''
* [[Ralph Tsing]]
* Arifano Amaru
* Toto Westsiide
* Jarryd Fouche


The staff records also identify:
Phoenix Tahiti reported finishing second in its competition.


* '''Heimanu Souday'''
The result was reported through the team's own social media activity in June 2026, although a complete official divisional classification has not yet been independently recovered. [15]


* '''Tuarii Souday'''
The exact competition division and final match score therefore remain unconfirmed.


The player and staff associations are recorded in historical PBLeagues tables.[5]
The appearance represented a documented European competition by Phoenix Tahiti, extending its international tournament history beyond Asia, Oceania and North America.


These names do not necessarily constitute the complete team roster.
== Tournament results ==
 
=== Asylum Paintball Cup, 2015 ===
 
The historical PBLeagues membership records identify two players whose last recorded event with the team was the September 2015 Asylum Paintball Cup:
 
* '''Joinville Souday'''
 
* '''Matatini Wong Chou'''
 
Both have recorded associations with Phoenix Tahiti during more than one event.[5]
 
The publicly available information does not establish the complete 2015 playing roster.
 
=== Auckland Paintball Cup, 2016 ===
 
The historical membership records identify the following players with last recorded team appearances at an April 2016 Auckland/Asylum tournament entry:
 
* '''Kevin Brodien Sr'''
 
* '''Philippe Danloue'''
 
* '''Rick Faafatua'''
 
* '''Tommy Paie'''
 
The historical individual listings describe the April event using the Asylum Cup name, while the team's main event history lists the April 2016 Auckland Paintball Cup.[4][5]
 
These are documented player associations for that competition period rather than an independently recovered complete match roster.
 
=== AFPL SoCal Chaos #3, 2016 ===
 
The historical PBLeagues membership records identify two players whose last recorded appearance with Phoenix Tahiti was the September 2016 AFPL event:
 
* '''Alfredo Valenzuela'''
 
* '''Christian Veroux'''
 
The historical staff list also identifies:
 
* '''Leo Heath'''
 
These records provide named team associations at the American event.[5]
 
Michael Earley, a former Phoenix Tahiti player, attended the same tournament competing for SD Crush and was not part of the Phoenix Tahiti playing squad.[2]
 
The full Phoenix Tahiti roster for the event has not been independently recovered.
 
=== World Cup Asia, 2017 ===
 
Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan finished fifth in Division 3 at the 2017 World Cup Asia.
 
The PBLeagues team results establish the event and final placing, but the available public records do not provide a complete individual roster for that tournament.[4]
 
Players appearing on later Phoenix Tahiti membership records cannot automatically be assigned to the 2017 event without further documentation.
 
=== George Town International X-Ball Cup, 2018 ===
 
The historical PBLeagues member records identify the following players whose last recorded team event was the October 2018 George Town International X-Ball Cup:
 
* '''Emir Rizal Maaruf'''
 
* '''Mat Zain Wan Fairul Anuar'''
 
Both are recorded in the historical membership database.[5]
 
Other players may have participated, but a complete event roster has not been recovered.
 
=== World Paintball Championship, 2019 ===
 
The historical PBLeagues records identify the following players whose last recorded team event was the 2019 World Paintball Championship in Thailand:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|+ Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan – 2019 documented player associations
 
! Player
 
! Recorded team events
 
|-
 
| '''Adams Torea Sr'''
 
| 6
 
|-
 
| '''Azmi Masian'''
 
| 3
 
|-
 
| '''Bahyu Fajri Jr'''
 
| 1
 
|-
 
| '''Johari Tambi Yahaya'''
 
| 1
 
|-
 
| '''Mohamad Roshidi Manjurni'''
 
| 3
 
|-
 
| '''Mohd Hijjas Adam Mohamed Amran'''
 
| 2
 
|-
 
| '''Ralph Tsing'''
 
| 8
 
|-
 
| '''Shahrizat Shami'''
 
| 3
 
|}
 
The staff records also identify:
 
* '''Katell Perennou''' – three recorded team events, with the 2019 championship listed as the last
 
Source: PBLeagues historical member and staff records.[5]
 
The event counts represent appearances recorded in the team's PBLeagues history rather than complete career totals.
 
The 2019 event is the last recorded entry for these members in the historical database. This does not independently establish their participation in every match or constitute a complete official tournament roster.
 
=== New Zealand Race Series, 2023 ===
 
The 2023 New Zealand Race Series squad is documented in a contemporary interview with captain Ralph Tsing.
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|+ Phoenix Tahiti – New Zealand Race Series, 2023
 
! Player
 
! Association
 
|-
 
| '''Torea Adams'''
 
| French Polynesia
 
|-
 
| '''Steven Wong'''
 
| French Polynesia
 
|-
 
| '''Emrick Amaru'''
 
| French Polynesia
 
|-
 
| '''Kevin Brodien'''
 
| French Polynesia


|-
The following table summarises documented international appearances by Phoenix Tahiti and related Tahitian squads.
 
| '''Ralph Tsing'''
 
| French Polynesia
 
|-
 
| '''Brandon Miller'''
 
| Australia
 
|-
 
| '''Jarryd Fouche'''
 
| South Africa
 
|}
 
Source: Air Tahiti Nui, October 2023.[7]
 
The squad combined five Tahitian players and two overseas players.
 
The published names differ slightly from some historical PBLeagues entries, including those for Torea Adams and Kevin Brodien. These variations have been preserved as published rather than assumed to be identical individual records.
 
=== NXL World Cup, 2025 ===
 
Phoenix Tahiti's Division 5 X-Ball runner-up finish is confirmed by the official NXL tournament records.[9]
 
However, the team's complete 2025 playing roster is not publicly displayed in the accessible PBLeagues archive.
 
A contemporary French Polynesian news report described three Tahitian participants associated with the team's World Cup result, but the accessible report does not establish their names.[10]
 
The 2025 players should therefore not be reconstructed from earlier Phoenix Tahiti rosters without further evidence.
 
=== Other historical members ===
 
The PBLeagues historical membership records also include:
 
* '''Andrew Harper''' – listed as a team member without a recorded event appearance
 
His inclusion in the database does not establish participation in a particular tournament.
 
The historical team staff records additionally identify Heimanu Souday, Katell Perennou, Leo Heath and Tuarii Souday, whose documented event associations are listed above.[5]
 
== Tournament results ==


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Phoenix Tahiti – Selected international tournament results
! Year
! Year
 
! Team name
! Tournament
! Tournament
! Country
! Country
! Division
! Division
! Result
! Result
|-
|-
 
| 2011
| Fei Pi 1923
| World Cup Asia
| Malaysia
| Division 1
| 19th of 21
|-
| 2012
| Tahitian Legion
| NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera
| New Zealand
| Cup
| Third-place playoff, result unconfirmed
|-
| 2012
| 2012
 
| Phoenix Authority
| Paintball World Cup Asia
| World Cup Asia
 
| Malaysia
| Malaysia
 
| Division 2
| Division 2, Phoenix Authority
| 17th of 28
 
| Player credentials documented; result unconfirmed
 
|-
|-
| 2013
| 2013
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| NAZA World Cup Asia
| World Cup Asia
 
| Malaysia
| Malaysia
 
| Division 3
| Division 3 RaceTo-2
 
| 47th of 54
| 47th of 54
|-
|-
| 2014
| 2014
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| NZPPL International Pacific Championship
| International Pacific Championship
 
| New Zealand
| New Zealand
 
| Division 1 X-Ball
| Division 1 RaceTo-4
 
| 4th of 8
| 4th of 8
|-
|-
| 2015
| 2015
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| Asylum Paintball Cup
| Asylum Paintball Cup
| New Zealand
| New Zealand
 
| Open X-Ball
| Open RaceTo-4
| Not recorded
 
| Participated; placing unavailable
 
|-
|-
| 2016
| 2016
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| Auckland Paintball Cup
| Auckland Paintball Cup
| New Zealand
| New Zealand
| Division 2 X-Ball
| Division 2 X-Ball
| 7th of 8
| 7th of 8
|-
|-
| 2016
| 2016
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| AFPL SoCal Chaos #3
| AFPL SoCal Chaos #3
| United States
| United States
 
| Division 4 X-Ball
| Division 4 RaceTo-3
 
| 8th of 8
| 8th of 8
|-
|-
| 2017
| 2017
 
| Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan
| Paintball World Cup Asia
| World Cup Asia
 
| Malaysia
| Malaysia
 
| Division 3 X-Ball
| Division 3 RaceTo-2
 
| 5th of 16
| 5th of 16
|-
|-
| 2018
| 2018
 
| Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan
| George Town International X-Ball Cup
| George Town International X-Ball Cup
| Malaysia
| Malaysia
 
| Amateur
| Amateur Division 2 RaceTo-4
 
| 5th of 17
| 5th of 17
|-
|-
| 2019
| 2019
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| New Zealand League Series Event 1
| New Zealand
| Unconfirmed
| Not recorded
|-
| 2019
| Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan
| World Paintball Championship
| World Paintball Championship
| Thailand
| Thailand
 
| Division 3
| Division 3 X-Ball
| Not recorded
 
| Participated; placing unavailable
 
|-
|-
| 2023
| 2023
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| New Zealand Race Series finale
| New Zealand Race Series, final round
 
| New Zealand
| New Zealand
 
| Race format
| Five-man X-Ball
 
| 3rd of 9
| 3rd of 9
|-
|-
| 2025
| 2025
 
| Phoenix Tahiti
| NXL World Cup
| NXL World Cup
| United States
| United States
| Division 5 X-Ball
| Division 5 X-Ball
 
| 2nd, runner-up
| '''2nd'''
|-
 
| 2026
| Phoenix Tahiti
| Championnat de France
| France
| Division unconfirmed
| 2nd, team-reported
|}
|}


Sources: Original 2012 accreditation photograph; PBLeagues; Air Tahiti Nui; official NXL World Cup results.[3][4][7][9]
The table includes earlier Tahitian squads through documented continuity of players. It does not establish that all the listed entries belonged to one formally registered organisation.


The table records selected confirmed international appearances rather than every event in the team's history.
== International participation and development ==


== Paintball in French Polynesia ==
Phoenix Tahiti has been notable for its use of international rosters to enable competitive participation outside French Polynesia.


Phoenix Tahiti's international activities have continued despite challenges affecting competitive paintball facilities in French Polynesia.
Players associated with the organisation have travelled to tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and France.


In August 2024, Tahiti Nui Télévision published a report about the shortage of sporting facilities.
[[Ralph Tsing]] has played a continuing role in organising international participation and developing connections with overseas teams.


Ralph Tsing described the loss of several paintball playing areas in '''2012''', including locations in Mahina, Papara, Punaauia and Mataiea.[8]
Financial and logistical barriers have affected the team's ability to travel with complete Tahitian rosters. In some cases, the organisation has assembled mixed-nationality squads with players recruited from countries where competitions were being held.


He also discussed the loss of a further practice location in the Punaruu area during '''2022'''.
The 2012 World Cup Asia, 2013 World Cup Asia, 2017 World Cup Asia and 2023 New Zealand Race Series appearances provide documented examples of this approach.


The loss of local facilities reduced opportunities for regular training and competition.
The team's activities have also been affected by the limited availability of competitive paintball facilities in French Polynesia.


Phoenix Tahiti's continued participation in tournaments outside French Polynesia reflects the importance of international connections for the territory's competitive players.
A 2024 Tahiti Nui Télévision report documented the loss of several Tahitian paintball fields beginning in 2012 and the closure of a later practice area in Punaruu in 2022. [16]


== Historical significance ==
These circumstances contributed to the importance of overseas competition for Tahitian players.


Phoenix Tahiti is a notable example of sustained international paintball participation by a team from French Polynesia.
== Legacy ==


Established in 2009, the team has maintained a presence in international tournament competition over more than a decade.
Phoenix Tahiti represents a longstanding example of competitive paintball participation from French Polynesia.


Its activities have connected Tahitian paintball with events in New Zealand, Malaysia, Thailand and the United States.
Beginning as a team founded by three friends in 2009, the organisation developed an international presence through repeated tournament appearances, cooperation with overseas players and participation across several competition divisions.


The team's history also demonstrates the changing composition of international amateur paintball squads, with players from French Polynesia and other countries participating together at different events.
Its broader history includes Tahitian squads competing at World Cup Asia in 2011 and 2012, followed by appearances under the Phoenix Tahiti name in Malaysia, New Zealand, the United States and France.


Original 2012 World Cup Asia credentials preserve details of an early tournament roster under the Phoenix Authority name.
The team's documented achievements include fifth place at World Cup Asia 2017, third place at the New Zealand Race Series 2023, second place in Division 5 X-Ball at the 2025 NXL World Cup, and a reported runner-up finish at the 2026 French Paintball Championship.
 
Later PBLeagues records document the team's participation and identify numerous historical players and staff.
 
The 2023 New Zealand Race Series podium and 2025 NXL World Cup Division 5 runner-up finish represent significant documented achievements.
 
The team's continued international participation, despite challenges maintaining local playing facilities, forms an important part of the history of competitive paintball in French Polynesia.
 
== Historical documentation ==
 
The team's history is supported by several types of sources.
 
Its founding year is recorded in its original public description.
 
The 2012 player accreditation photograph and firsthand testimony establish early international participation under the Phoenix Authority name.
 
PBLeagues records provide tournament results and historical membership information from 2013 to 2019.
 
Air Tahiti Nui documents the 2023 New Zealand Race Series roster and podium finish.
 
Official NXL records establish Phoenix Tahiti's second-place Division 5 X-Ball finish at the 2025 World Cup.
 
Historical PBLeagues member records identify individual players' last recorded events, but do not provide complete accessible rosters for every tournament.
 
Consequently, player names are associated with specific events only where supported by accreditation, published rosters, firsthand participation evidence or the last-event information displayed in the historical database.


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Ralph Tsing]]
* [[Paintball in French Polynesia]]
* [[Paintball in French Polynesia]]
* [[Paintball in Oceania]]
* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[Paintball Asia League Series]]
* [[Paintball Asia League Series]]
* [[Paintball World Cup Asia]]
* [[Paintball World Cup Asia]]
* [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]
* [[New Zealand Paintball Players League]]
 
* [[New Zealand Race Series]]
* [[Almost Famous Paintball League]]
 
* [[National Xball League]]
* [[National Xball League]]
 
* [[Super 7's Paintball Series]]
* [[NXL World Cup]]
* [[Fédération Française de Paintball]]
 
* [[Ralph Tsing]]
 
* [[Michael Earley]]
 
* [[SD Crush]]


== References ==
== References ==


# [https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/PF/Papeete/180926158404/Phoenix-Tahiti-Paintball Phoenix Tahiti Paintball – Historical Team Description]. Reproduction of the team's published description identifying its establishment in 2009 by three friends.
# [https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/PF/Papeete/180926158404/Phoenix-Tahiti-Paintball Phoenix Tahiti Paintball]. Historical team description identifying its formation in 2009.
 
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/qnCyzgX5g4pCgeVT PBLeagues: Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan]. Historical team registration and tournament records, 2013 to 2019.
# Michael Earley, firsthand recollections supplied to WikiPaintball, October 2026. Confirms participation with Phoenix Tahiti in 2012 and 2013, Ralph Tsing's long-standing captaincy, Phoenix Authority as an alternative team name, and Earley's participation with SD Crush rather than Phoenix Tahiti at the September 2016 AFPL event.
# [https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/2018461/all Allan Phang, PALS World Cup Asia 2011 team announcements]. 24 September 2011.
 
# Paintball Asia League Series. "Division 1: 2011 Ranking." Original season standings supplied to WikiPaintball.
# Michael Earley, personal photographic collection. Original photograph of '''2012 Paintball World Cup Asia''' Division 2 accreditation credentials for Phoenix Authority. Identifies Ralph Tsing, Moana Lei Foc, Christian Veroux, Michael Earley, Ku Zambiri and Tim Matthee, alongside two unnamed pit-crew credentials and one unnamed coach credential. Supplied to WikiPaintball in October 2026. A separate photograph records names written in sand during the same tournament period.
# NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera, 2012. Original handwritten tournament scoreboard and contemporary Tahitian Legion team photograph, supplied to WikiPaintball.
 
# Fédération de Paintball. Papara Paintball competitor identification cards, 2012. Original photographs supplied to WikiPaintball.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/qnCyzgX5g4pCgeVT Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan – Historical Team Profile]. ''PBLeagues''. Documents the team's home field, September 2013 registration and tournament appearances from 2013 to 2019.
# ''La Dépêche de Tahiti''. "Une honorable 17e place." Fenua section, 2012. Contemporary report on Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia.
 
# Paintball Asia League Series. "Division 3: 2013 Ranking." Original season standings supplied to WikiPaintball.
# [https://pbleagues.com/team/qnCyzgX5g4pCgeVT Phoenix Tahiti – Historical Membership and Staff Records]. ''PBLeagues''. Historical player and staff tables, including recorded event counts and last-event information. Screenshots supplied to WikiPaintball in October 2026.
# Paintball World Cup Asia 2017. Original Division 3 preliminary scoreboards, second-round results, quarterfinal results and final rankings. Contemporary records supplied to WikiPaintball.
 
# Pereyre-Gobrait, Vaitiare. "Cinquième place pour le team Tahiti-Malaisie." ''La Dépêche de Tahiti'', 15 November 2017, p. 34.
# [https://pbleagues.com/leagues/206 Almost Famous Paintball League]. ''PBLeagues''. Identifies AFPL as the Almost Famous Paintball League and documents its tournaments.
# New Zealand League Series. Contemporary photographic record identifying Phoenix Tahiti at NZLS Event 1, published 10 March 2019.
 
# [https://pf.airtahitinui.com/actualites/ambassador/paintball-ralph-tsing-enchaine-les-bons-resultats Air Tahiti Nui. "Paintball : Ralph Tsing enchaine les bons résultats."] 31 October 2023.
# [https://pf.airtahitinui.com/actualites/ambassador/paintball-ralph-tsing-enchaine-les-bons-resultats Paintball : Ralph Tsing enchaine les bons résultats]. ''Air Tahiti Nui'', 31 October 2023. Interview documenting the Phoenix Tahiti roster, results and third-place finish at the New Zealand Race Series finale.
# [https://pbleagues.com/scores/L316/E8928/scores/finalsScores.html PBLeagues: NXL World Cup 2025 final results]. Official Division 5 X-Ball standings.
 
# [https://www.helloasso.com/associations/federation-francaise-de-paintball/evenements/championnat-de-france-2026 Fédération Française de Paintball: Championnat de France 2026]. Event information confirming dates and location, 5 to 7 June 2026.
# [https://www.tntvnews.pf/sports/les-associations-sportives-en-mal-dinfrastructures/ Les associations sportives en mal d'infrastructures]. ''Tahiti Nui Télévision'', 30 August 2024. Report discussing the loss of paintball facilities in French Polynesia, including comments from Ralph Tsing.
# [https://www.facebook.com/phoenixauthority/ Phoenix Tahiti Paintball]. Team social media reporting and photo album "Championnat de France 2026", including the reported runner-up result.
 
# [https://www.tntvnews.pf/sports/les-associations-sportives-en-mal-dinfrastructures/ Tahiti Nui Télévision. "Les associations sportives en mal d'infrastructures."] 30 August 2024.
# [https://pbleagues.com/event/8928 World Cup 2025 – Official Tournament Results]. ''PBLeagues''. Official NXL World Cup results confirming Phoenix Tahiti's Division 5 X-Ball runner-up finish following a 4–2 loss to Protocol D5.
 
# [https://www.drom-com.fr/articles/trois-tahitiens-brillent-nxl-paintball-world-cup-decrochent-place-vice-champions-monde-77189.htm Trois Tahitiens brillent à la NXL Paintball World Cup]. ''DROM-COM'', 20 November 2025. Reproduces French Polynesian news coverage of the team's runner-up finish.


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://pbleagues.com/team/qnCyzgX5g4pCgeVT Phoenix Tahiti – Historical PBLeagues team profile]
* [https://www.facebook.com/phoenixauthority/ Phoenix Tahiti Paintball on Facebook]
 
* [https://pbleagues.com/team/qnCyzgX5g4pCgeVT Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan on PBLeagues]
* [https://pf.airtahitinui.com/actualites/ambassador/paintball-ralph-tsing-enchaine-les-bons-resultats Air Tahiti Nui – 2023 tournament interview]
 
* [https://pbleagues.com/event/8928 2025 NXL World Cup – Official tournament results]
 
* [https://www.localgymsandfitness.com/PF/Papeete/180926158404/Phoenix-Tahiti-Paintball Phoenix Tahiti – Historical team description]


[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:Paintball in French Polynesia]]
[[Category:Paintball in French Polynesia]]
[[Category:Paintball in Oceania]]

Latest revision as of 05:22, 26 October 2026

Phoenix Tahiti is a competitive paintball team from French Polynesia. Established in 2009, the team has participated in international paintball competitions across Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America, including the Paintball Asia League Series (PALS), the New Zealand Paintball Players League (NZPPL), the National Xball League (NXL) and the French national paintball championship.

The organisation has competed under several names, including Phoenix Authority, Phoenix Tahiti and Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan. Its broader history also includes earlier Tahitian representative squads, including Fei Pi 1923 and Tahitian Legion, which shared players with Phoenix Tahiti.

The team has regularly assembled international rosters combining players from French Polynesia with competitors from other countries. Ralph Tsing has been one of its most extensively documented players and organisers.

Documented achievements include fifth place at World Cup Asia in 2017, third place at the New Zealand Race Series in 2023, second place in Division 5 X-Ball at the 2025 NXL World Cup, and a reported second-place finish at the 2026 French Paintball Championship.

History

[edit]

Formation

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti was founded in 2009 by three friends in French Polynesia.

According to the team's own historical description, its founders wanted to assemble a squad consisting of players from different established teams, with an emphasis on enjoying paintball and competing together. [1]

The organisation developed international connections with players and tournament operators across the Pacific region, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Ralph Tsing became one of the team's most prominent international representatives, helping assemble squads for overseas tournaments and maintaining relationships with other competitive teams.

The team's historical PBLeagues profile identifies Tahiti Ultimate Paintball in Punaauia, French Polynesia, as an associated field. The profile was registered on 2 September 2013, although the organisation's history predates that registration. [2]

Team names and international participation

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti's tournament history includes several related team names.

The names Phoenix Authority, Phoenix Tahiti and Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan have been used by squads associated with the organisation.

Earlier Tahitian teams, including Fei Pi 1923 and Tahitian Legion, included players who subsequently competed for Phoenix Tahiti.

Although these earlier teams shared identifiable players, the surviving records do not establish that every name represented the same formally registered organisation.

Their appearances are included in the broader history of Phoenix Tahiti while preserving the individual team names used at each tournament.

The organisation has also relied upon international cooperation to assemble squads for overseas competitions. Its rosters have included players from Tahiti, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Germany and South Africa.

Early Tahitian international competition

[edit]

World Cup Asia 2011: Fei Pi 1923

[edit]

A Tahitian team competed in Division 1 at the 2011 Paintball World Cup Asia, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 10 to 13 November.

The squad appeared in pre-tournament registration announcements as Team Fei-Pi-Tahiti and in the original PALS rankings as Fei Pi 1923.

A registration announcement published on 24 September 2011 by PALS International Liaison Director Allan Phang confirms the team's participation. [3]

The identified roster included:

  • Ralph Tsing
  • Tafai Rai
  • Christian Veroux
  • Alexis Holman
  • Bryce Carpentier
  • Josh Alvarado

Fei Pi 1923 finished 19th among 21 Division 1 teams at World Cup Asia, earning 24 ranking points.

The squad finished 22nd in the overall 2011 PALS Division 1 season rankings. [4]

The appearance documents international competition by several players subsequently associated with Phoenix Tahiti.

The precise organisational relationship between Fei Pi 1923 and Phoenix Tahiti has not been established.

NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera 2012: Tahitian Legion

[edit]

A Tahitian squad competed at the second event of the 2012 New Zealand Paintball Players League season, held in Hāwera, Taranaki, New Zealand.

The squad was known as Tahitian Legion, although the original handwritten tournament scoreboard recorded the entry simply as Tahiti.

Contemporary photographs identify six players wearing matching black jerseys:

  • Shane Gallagher (#25), a New Zealand player guesting for the team
  • Mani Voirin (#16)
  • Christian Veroux (#88)
  • Ralph Tsing (#27)
  • Keke Brodien (#14)
  • Manaurii Bousquet (#01)

The team competed in the Cup section against ADHD, Arachnids, D4, Hybrid, Tempest, Those Guys and Tiger Blood.

The original scoreboard records Tahiti fourth after seven scoring rounds, with 329 points.

The scoreboard also identifies a third-place playoff between Tahiti and Tiger Blood. The final result of that match has not been established. [5]

A separate team named Phoenix competed in the Plate section of the same tournament. This was a Wellington, New Zealand team and was not Phoenix Tahiti.

Tahitian Legion's participation provides early documentation of Tahitian players competing in New Zealand, including individuals who also represented Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia later that year.

Organised paintball in Tahiti, 2012

[edit]

Surviving competitor identification cards from a paintball event in Tahiti in 2012 provide additional evidence of organised local competitive paintball.

The cards carry Fédération de Paintball branding and identify the association Papara Paintball.

Eight registered competitors are documented:

  • Nicolas Mesnard
  • Teute Puairau
  • Christian Veroux
  • Ralph Tsing
  • Heimanu Souday
  • Joinville Souday
  • Tuarii Souday
  • Tamatoa Lepean

These records establish the players' association with Papara Paintball in 2012 but do not independently establish that every cardholder competed for Phoenix Tahiti. [6]

Paintball Asia League Series

[edit]

World Cup Asia 2012: Phoenix Authority

[edit]

Phoenix Authority competed at the 2012 Paintball World Cup Asia, held in Langkawi, Malaysia, as part of the Paintball Asia League Series.

The team competed in Division 2 with a multinational roster.

A contemporary report in La Dépêche de Tahiti, titled "Une honorable 17e place", identified the following players:

  • Ralph Tsing (Tahiti)
  • Christian Veroux (Tahiti)
  • Moana Le Foc (Tahiti)
  • Michael Earley (New Zealand)
  • Tim Matthee (Australia)
  • Badman Bud (Malaysia)
  • Ku Zambree (Malaysia)

The newspaper reported that the squad had been unable to assemble a complete Tahitian lineup and therefore recruited international teammates. [7]

Phoenix Authority finished 17th out of 28 teams in Division 2.

The original tournament preliminary standings record the squad in 17th position, with 2.5 competition points, nine sets won and 12 sets lost.

The contemporary newspaper report also confirms the team's 17th-place finish.

The appearance demonstrates the team's early use of multinational rosters and the international connections that would continue throughout its history.

World Cup Asia 2013: Phoenix Tahiti

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti returned to World Cup Asia in Langkawi, Malaysia, from 15 to 17 November 2013.

The team competed in Division 3.

Team roster

[edit]

The complete six-player roster was:

  • Ralph Tsing (Tahiti)
  • Ku Zambree (Malaysia)
  • Moana Le Foc (Tahiti)
  • Sasha Dworatschek (Germany)
  • Mando Hazree (Malaysia)
  • Michael Earley (New Zealand)

The squad included two Tahitian players, two Malaysian players, one German player and one New Zealand player.

Several members had previously played together for Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia 2012.

The roster has been documented through firsthand testimony from a participating player.

Tournament results

[edit]

The original 2013 PALS Division 3 rankings record Phoenix Tahiti finishing 47th at World Cup Asia, earning 31 ranking points.

The team finished 57th in the overall 2013 PALS Division 3 season standings, which listed 65 teams. [8]

PBLeagues independently confirms a final event placing of 47th among 54 teams in Division 3. [2]

The original PALS ranking and PBLeagues historical records use different points scales, although both identify the same final event position.

World Cup Asia 2017: Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti returned to World Cup Asia from 10 to 12 November 2017 at The ARC, Bandar Rimbayu, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The team competed in Division 3, which featured 16 entrants.

The original tournament scoreboards use the name Phoenix Tahiti, while the historical PBLeagues registration identifies the squad as Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan, a later version of the team name. [2]

Preliminary round

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti was placed in Group B alongside Splatmasters, BT D' Aquarian, Duck Vader, Octosquad, Order 66, KSM Paintballers and Hardinsert.

The team finished second in the group.

Its recorded preliminary statistics were:

  • Competition points: 6
  • Sets won: 11
  • Sets lost: 5
  • Set differential: +6

The result qualified Phoenix Tahiti for the second round. [9]

Second round

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti advanced to Group Z alongside Raptor Brunei, Octosquad and Order 66.

The team finished first in the group, winning all six sets played.

Its recorded statistics were:

  • Competition points: 3
  • Sets won: 6
  • Sets lost: 0
  • Set differential: +6

Phoenix Tahiti advanced to the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti faced Order 66 in the quarterfinals.

Order 66 won the match by two sets to one, eliminating Phoenix Tahiti from the competition.

Phoenix Tahiti finished fifth overall out of 16 Division 3 teams. [2][9]

The leading Division 3 teams were:

  • Champion: Kejahatan Aisawan
  • First runner-up: BT D' Aquarian
  • Second runner-up: Splatmasters
  • Third runner-up: Order 66

Kejahatan Aisawan was a separate competing team from Phoenix Tahiti, despite the use of the Aisawan name in Phoenix Tahiti's historical registration.

Tahitian and Malaysian combined team

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti's fifth-place finish received coverage in La Dépêche de Tahiti on 15 November 2017.

The article, titled "Cinquième place pour le team Tahiti-Malaisie", identified Ralph Tsing and Torea Adams as the Tahitian players who participated in the competition. [10]

According to the report, the team had originally intended to travel with a complete Tahitian squad.

Financial limitations prevented sufficient players from travelling, and the organisers arranged for the Tahitian competitors to join Malaysian players.

Tsing described the fifth-place finish as a positive achievement, particularly because the combined squad had been assembled specifically for the tournament and had not previously trained together.

The newspaper published a photograph of five players representing the combined team.

The identities of the Malaysian players in the photograph have not been independently established.

George Town International X-Ball Cup 2018

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan competed in the George Town International X-Ball Cup in Malaysia on 19 October 2018.

The squad entered the Amateur division and finished fifth out of 17 teams.

The result is recorded in the team's historical PBLeagues profile. [2]

World Paintball Championship 2019

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan was registered for the World Paintball Championship in Thailand, held from 29 November to 1 December 2019.

The team entered WPC Division 3 under the Mercy Limit 2 format.

PBLeagues confirms the team's participation but does not provide a final placing. [2]

New Zealand competitions

[edit]

International Pacific Championship 2014

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti competed in the NZPPL International Pacific Championship at Asylum Paintball in Kingseat, Auckland, on 25 and 26 October 2014.

The team entered Division 1 X-Ball and finished fourth out of eight participating teams. [2]

Contemporary team photographs identify several Tahitian players associated with this appearance, including Ralph Tsing, Matatini Wong Chou, Christian Theroux and Torea Adams.

Asylum Paintball Cup 2015

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti returned to New Zealand for the Asylum Paintball Cup on 26 and 27 September 2015.

The team entered the Open X-Ball division.

The appearance is recorded by PBLeagues, although no final placing is provided in the historical team profile. [2]

Auckland Paintball Cup 2016

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti competed in the Auckland Paintball Cup on 16 and 17 April 2016.

The team entered Division 2 X-Ball and finished seventh out of eight teams. [2]

New Zealand League Series 2019

[edit]

Contemporary photographic material documents additional Phoenix Tahiti activity at Asylum Paintball in Auckland during the New Zealand League Series in 2019.

A photograph published on 10 March 2019 identifies the team in connection with NZLS Event 1.

A final tournament placing has not been established from the available records. [11]

New Zealand Race Series 2023

[edit]

In October 2023, Phoenix Tahiti competed in the final round of the New Zealand Race Series at Arena Paintball in Feilding, New Zealand.

The competition attracted nine teams.

At the invitation of event organiser David Hopkins, Ralph Tsing assembled an international Phoenix Tahiti squad comprising five Tahitian players and two international teammates.

The documented roster included:

  • Ralph Tsing (Tahiti)
  • Torea Adams (Tahiti)
  • Steven Wong (Tahiti)
  • Emrick Amaru (Tahiti)
  • Kevin Brodien (Tahiti)
  • Brandon Miller (Australia)
  • Jarryd Fouche (South Africa)

The team's participation was documented in an interview with Tsing published by Air Tahiti Nui on 31 October 2023. [12]

Phoenix Tahiti completed the preliminary stage with six victories, one draw and one defeat.

The team advanced to the semifinals against Ballistics Unit.

After trailing 2-0, Phoenix Tahiti recovered to take a 3-2 lead before the match finished 3-3 in regulation time.

Ballistics Unit won the deciding sudden-death point.

Phoenix Tahiti subsequently defeated the Charcharodons 3-0 in the third-place playoff, securing third place overall.

The tournament was won by Expendables, who defeated Ballistics Unit 3-0 in the final.

Tsing had previously played with Expendables during the first two rounds of the 2023 New Zealand Race Series. Those appearances were separate from the Phoenix Tahiti team entered for the final round.

United States competitions

[edit]

AFPL SoCal Chaos 2016

[edit]

Phoenix Tahiti competed in the American Federation of Paintball Leagues SoCal Chaos #3 tournament on 10 and 11 September 2016.

The team entered Division 4 X-Ball and finished eighth out of eight teams. [2]

NXL World Cup 2025

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Phoenix Tahiti competed at the 2025 National Xball League World Cup, held in Kissimmee, Florida, United States, from 12 to 16 November.

The team entered Division 5 X-Ball.

Phoenix Tahiti completed its preliminary schedule with three victories and one defeat before advancing to the elimination rounds.

The team's elimination-stage results included:

  • Defeated Thunderducks, 3-0
  • Defeated Revolution, 2-1
  • Defeated Texas Rampage, 4-1
  • Defeated SoCal Havoc Misfits, 3-0

Phoenix Tahiti advanced to the Division 5 X-Ball final against Protocol D5.

Protocol D5 won the championship match 4-2, leaving Phoenix Tahiti as the division's runner-up. [13]

The result attracted media coverage in French Polynesia and represented a significant achievement for the team at one of the sport's largest international tournaments.

European competitions

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French Paintball Championship 2026

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Phoenix Tahiti competed at the 2026 Championnat de France, organised by the Fédération Française de Paintball in Dreux, France, from 5 to 7 June 2026.

The championship was held at the paintball complex on Chemin Notre Dame de la Ronde in Dreux. [14]

The team's participation is documented through its own contemporary social media coverage, including photographs published under the title "Championnat de France 2026".

Players associated with the appearance included:

Phoenix Tahiti reported finishing second in its competition.

The result was reported through the team's own social media activity in June 2026, although a complete official divisional classification has not yet been independently recovered. [15]

The exact competition division and final match score therefore remain unconfirmed.

The appearance represented a documented European competition by Phoenix Tahiti, extending its international tournament history beyond Asia, Oceania and North America.

Tournament results

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The following table summarises documented international appearances by Phoenix Tahiti and related Tahitian squads.

Year Team name Tournament Country Division Result
2011 Fei Pi 1923 World Cup Asia Malaysia Division 1 19th of 21
2012 Tahitian Legion NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera New Zealand Cup Third-place playoff, result unconfirmed
2012 Phoenix Authority World Cup Asia Malaysia Division 2 17th of 28
2013 Phoenix Tahiti World Cup Asia Malaysia Division 3 47th of 54
2014 Phoenix Tahiti International Pacific Championship New Zealand Division 1 X-Ball 4th of 8
2015 Phoenix Tahiti Asylum Paintball Cup New Zealand Open X-Ball Not recorded
2016 Phoenix Tahiti Auckland Paintball Cup New Zealand Division 2 X-Ball 7th of 8
2016 Phoenix Tahiti AFPL SoCal Chaos #3 United States Division 4 X-Ball 8th of 8
2017 Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan World Cup Asia Malaysia Division 3 X-Ball 5th of 16
2018 Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan George Town International X-Ball Cup Malaysia Amateur 5th of 17
2019 Phoenix Tahiti New Zealand League Series Event 1 New Zealand Unconfirmed Not recorded
2019 Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan World Paintball Championship Thailand Division 3 Not recorded
2023 Phoenix Tahiti New Zealand Race Series, final round New Zealand Race format 3rd of 9
2025 Phoenix Tahiti NXL World Cup United States Division 5 X-Ball 2nd, runner-up
2026 Phoenix Tahiti Championnat de France France Division unconfirmed 2nd, team-reported

The table includes earlier Tahitian squads through documented continuity of players. It does not establish that all the listed entries belonged to one formally registered organisation.

International participation and development

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Phoenix Tahiti has been notable for its use of international rosters to enable competitive participation outside French Polynesia.

Players associated with the organisation have travelled to tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, the United States and France.

Ralph Tsing has played a continuing role in organising international participation and developing connections with overseas teams.

Financial and logistical barriers have affected the team's ability to travel with complete Tahitian rosters. In some cases, the organisation has assembled mixed-nationality squads with players recruited from countries where competitions were being held.

The 2012 World Cup Asia, 2013 World Cup Asia, 2017 World Cup Asia and 2023 New Zealand Race Series appearances provide documented examples of this approach.

The team's activities have also been affected by the limited availability of competitive paintball facilities in French Polynesia.

A 2024 Tahiti Nui Télévision report documented the loss of several Tahitian paintball fields beginning in 2012 and the closure of a later practice area in Punaruu in 2022. [16]

These circumstances contributed to the importance of overseas competition for Tahitian players.

Legacy

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Phoenix Tahiti represents a longstanding example of competitive paintball participation from French Polynesia.

Beginning as a team founded by three friends in 2009, the organisation developed an international presence through repeated tournament appearances, cooperation with overseas players and participation across several competition divisions.

Its broader history includes Tahitian squads competing at World Cup Asia in 2011 and 2012, followed by appearances under the Phoenix Tahiti name in Malaysia, New Zealand, the United States and France.

The team's documented achievements include fifth place at World Cup Asia 2017, third place at the New Zealand Race Series 2023, second place in Division 5 X-Ball at the 2025 NXL World Cup, and a reported runner-up finish at the 2026 French Paintball Championship.

See also

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References

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  1. Phoenix Tahiti Paintball. Historical team description identifying its formation in 2009.
  2. PBLeagues: Phoenix Tahiti Aisawan. Historical team registration and tournament records, 2013 to 2019.
  3. Allan Phang, PALS World Cup Asia 2011 team announcements. 24 September 2011.
  4. Paintball Asia League Series. "Division 1: 2011 Ranking." Original season standings supplied to WikiPaintball.
  5. NZPPL Event 2, Hāwera, 2012. Original handwritten tournament scoreboard and contemporary Tahitian Legion team photograph, supplied to WikiPaintball.
  6. Fédération de Paintball. Papara Paintball competitor identification cards, 2012. Original photographs supplied to WikiPaintball.
  7. La Dépêche de Tahiti. "Une honorable 17e place." Fenua section, 2012. Contemporary report on Phoenix Authority at World Cup Asia.
  8. Paintball Asia League Series. "Division 3: 2013 Ranking." Original season standings supplied to WikiPaintball.
  9. Paintball World Cup Asia 2017. Original Division 3 preliminary scoreboards, second-round results, quarterfinal results and final rankings. Contemporary records supplied to WikiPaintball.
  10. Pereyre-Gobrait, Vaitiare. "Cinquième place pour le team Tahiti-Malaisie." La Dépêche de Tahiti, 15 November 2017, p. 34.
  11. New Zealand League Series. Contemporary photographic record identifying Phoenix Tahiti at NZLS Event 1, published 10 March 2019.
  12. Air Tahiti Nui. "Paintball : Ralph Tsing enchaine les bons résultats." 31 October 2023.
  13. PBLeagues: NXL World Cup 2025 final results. Official Division 5 X-Ball standings.
  14. Fédération Française de Paintball: Championnat de France 2026. Event information confirming dates and location, 5 to 7 June 2026.
  15. Phoenix Tahiti Paintball. Team social media reporting and photo album "Championnat de France 2026", including the reported runner-up result.
  16. Tahiti Nui Télévision. "Les associations sportives en mal d'infrastructures." 30 August 2024.
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