Champs Rangers proud

AMESII coach David Peter is proud of his club’s efforts in the City Rangers Basketball Association following dual grand final celebrations in the men’s and women’s showpiece at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre.
Both teams finished on top of the regular round after a consistent campaign in the 2023 season with 11 straight wins.
On Tuesday night Amesii etched their names in the history books of the China Enterprises Association PNG-sponsored competition as the first club to win a grand final in two different premier divisions.
The Betty Wong-captained women’s side defeated the Betty Angula-led Same Speed club with a 41-29 posting while the men’s team crushed Tribes Coffee 50-39, wrapping up a superb season.
“It’s a bonus for us to win the grand final after a spell in the competition and I’m proud of their performance this season,” Peter told The National after their grand final victory.
“Both teams were consistent throughout the season and their efforts didn’t get unnoticed. They have set the bench mark for all other clubs in the competition.
“The men’s and women’s elevated the standard of the game to an exciting level and credit to everyone for putting the effort during training and game days.
“Our focus now will be on mending some of the gaps in our performance before we look at other possibilities of attending some other competitions in the country and abroad.”
The men’s side had a simple game plan in the big dance to keep Tribes’ offense lineup of Anderson Hewe, Dia and Cornelius Muri out of the circle and make them work in the middle.
The finals show started on a flurry of physical encounters as both teams committed equal fouls which resulted in a 6-5 scoreline in favour of Amesii at the end of first quarter.
In the second frame, the Jonitha Warabe-guided Tribes outfit punched through gaps to score doubles as points started to pile up.
But with two sides struggling to find their way through the scoring range, there were several attempts for three-pointers, which were out of mark on most occasions.
Amesii maintained a narrow 13-12 lead at halftime as coaches started barking orders from the sideline to reduce errors and score baskets.
Cornelius and Hewe were the attacking weapon for Tribes with a number of layups throughout the four-quarter contest.
Dia Muri had height advantage and denied Amesii on few instances, which were crucial in the third frame.
Moses Lune delivered for Amesii in the final quarter, adding six doubles to seal victory for his men in front of a packed TAIC supporters on Tuesday night.