Guam, Fiji women rule the basketball courts

 GUAM (men) and Fiji (women) are the new basketball kings and queens of the Pacific Games. 

In the men’s gold medal match Guam beat Fiji 78-61 yesterday and in the women’s final Fiji brushed aside American Samoa 78-61 to snatch the gold medal in a jam-packed but peaceful atmosphere.

The two champions had all the reasons to smile after going through the event unbeaten, which set a new Pacific Games record in Port Moresby.

In 2011 in Noumea, New Caledonia, Guam lost to New Caledonia in the men’s final in but this time it was very sweet victory for them in PNG. 

Fiji women won the bronze medal in the 2011 Games but on Saturday they were just too good for American Samoa for the gold medal challenge.

The gold medal victory for Guam came after 36 years and they had the vocal local crowd loving their style of play and barracking for them.

The top scorer was Joseph Blas Junior, who had a high 21, followed by William Stinnett 18, Tai Wesley 14 and Jesus Cruz 12. Blas said Guam were blessed with the inclusion of US-based players from a college league.

Fiji’s double figures were from Marques Whippy (17 with two trebles), Joshua Fox 16 and Mataika Koyamainavure 12, while captain Leonard Whippy had eight and two three-pointers.