Lakers crowned champions of Souths basketball league

By PATRICIA KEAMO
KUTUBU Lakers were crowned as National Souths Basketball League champions after their men’s and women’s teams won their respective finals at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
The women’s team, led by national representative Betty Angula, beat EMK City Rangers 43-27 to claim K25,000. In the men’s final, Mendi Menjals led Lakers 22-13 at the break before skipper Collin Pine led his side to a 42-38 comeback victory.
“I am really happy with the performance of my team, they stuck to the game plan,” Pine said.
“We didn’t panic, we kept our cool and came out as winners.
“Since game one, we focused on our defence and offence, and made use of any opportunity to score.”
League patron Johnny Yawari commended the finalists and participating teams, saying it was the best edition in the history of the annual tournament.
The tournament attracted 13 men’s and 12 women’s teams who competed over four days from April 15.
Yawari said it took 29 years for the Lakers to win the men’s final.
He acknowledged the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea for facilitating the tournament.
“To develop basketball, you have to play with the best and learn from them to go back home and pass on what you’ve learnt,” he said.
“We are going to take this tournament to the next level.
“This is just the start.”
Yawari said the men’s and women’s winning prize money was increased to K25,000.
Second-placed Menjals and Rangers each received K15,000 while third-placed Usano Sura and Kondo East Souths each bagged K10,000.
Meanwhile, major sponsor Petroleum Resources Kutubu said it would remain as the league’s backer from next year.