City sides dominate All Stars

By JACK AMI
PORT Moresby teams dominated the PNG Basketball National All Stars Championships, winning the men’s and women’s finals at the Taurama Aquatic Centre on Saturday.
In the men’s final, PMBL Black beat PMBL Red while in the women’s decider Port Moresby thumped Mt Hagen 51-27 in a one-sided affair that did not reach any great heights.
The All Stars Championship which started last Thursday saw the Port Moresby-based teams dominate the exchanges.
Alotau featured Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel while the Kavieng team had Wright brothers lloyd and Liam.
In the women’s final, Port Moresby built up momentum after an even first quarter that saw them take a 10-6 lead.
The second quarter had Port Moresby increase the tempo to lead 20-10 with Betty Angula getting several assists and playing a leading hand on the offensive end.
Port Moresby piled on another nine points in the third quarter while Mt Hagen could only manage four for a 29-14 scoreline heading to the final quarter.
Both sides lifted for the final quarter but it was the city women who finished off with a more polished performance crossing the half century mark while Hagen to their credit had their best scoring quarter (13 points) for a final score of 51-27.
Port Moresby forward Mary Sadilier had a game high 11 points – the only double digit figure – and had great support from Maka Muri, Nest Sape, Rosa Kairi and Angula.
Mary Cindy Elavo and young Normalisa Dobunaba also had solid games.
Despite being out-sized by the taller Port Moresby side Hagen made up for it with a physical style but their lack of accuracy ensured they did not apply any scoreboard pressure.
Hagen’s Jonitha Warabe, Esther Moses, Lesandra Tomerop, Angela Ovuta and Frenimo Goma tried hard in a beaten side.