Basketballer Agula best of a generation

 EXCITING Papua New Guinean basketballer Betty Agula is the most outstanding player of this generation.

Agula’s stylish performance has earned her one of the Oceania Rim Most Valuable Player awards. 

No other Papua New Guinean has received such an award in the sport.

Agula, who has enlisted in the PNG Defence Force, is awaiting a call-up from Oceania FIBA to play in the All Stars tournament.

FIBA Oceania basketball development of­ficer Annie La Fleur said from Coffs Harbour, Australia, last week said their records showed no one had  been  selected from PNG in the past. 

Agula, 24, of Pangia, Southern Highlands, and Kabiufa, Eastern Highlands, parentage becomes the first local to be named in the Oceania Rim Most Valuable Player team .

The MVP All Star includes Hailey Purcell (Samoa), Aroha Haumaha (New Zealand), Lauren Sherf (Australia) and Mikaelar Whippy (Fiji).

Agula was emotional but happy after playing her strongest possible game in the FIBA Oceania Championships in New Zealand.

“I knew that I will be named as one of the best players but to do that I had to double up my performance which paid handsomely in the end,” she said.

She is a photocopy of former international representative Janet Kuno from Wabag, Enga. They are both strongly built and play leading roles.

Agula is an all-rounder and a smarter basketballer than most women players of today. 

“I’m looking forward for the 2015 Pacific Games and am confident of the women’s team doing well,” she said.

“But it is all up to our commitment, training and discipline to be successful,”she said.

She thanked her major sponsor, Welgris Fuel Distributors Ltd, PNG women’s head coach Veitu Diro, BFPNG and all the people who supported her.