Gima ecstatic with victories

 Papua New Guinea beach volleyball coach Alex Gima is ecstatic about his men’s team’s undefeated run so far.  

Gima told The National that his team was not taking the games easily because they had prepared well for this Pacific Games. 

PNG men Moa Mea (captain) and Richard Kilarupa had won two games on Monday and had won again yesterday after crushing Tuvalu two sets to nil (21/10 and 21/12).  

Gima said his men prepared well and were also experienced beach volleyball players. 

“Mea is a regular beach volleyball player and he has taken part in various international events, including the last Pacific Games in New Caledonia.  “Kilarupa is also an experienced beach volleyball player,” Gima said. 

The 47-year-old coach has given most of his life to volleyball. 

He spent the last 37 years playing and coaching volleyball. 

He switched from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball in 2001 when he attended a coaching clinic for beach volleyball in Port Moresby. 

He started playing volleyball in 1982 when he was in Grade Nine at Kila Kila High School. 

He took the team to several times to the Asian volleyball tournament and also to Gold Coast for the Queensland volleyball tour. 

He coached the PNG beach volleyball team during the South Pacific Games in 2003 in Fiji. 

He was to coach the team again in 2011 for the Pacific Games in New Caledonia but could not make it because of work commitment. 

“I am actually happy about the beach volleyball team because we had training programmes that prepared us well for this Pacific Games,” he said. 

“We are really looking forward to the games to come and the finals. Both men and women are in good spirits and we will take each game seriously. 

“The main thing we want is to wear medals around our necks,” Gima said. 

PNG women have so far won two games and lost one.