Maiyawala, Epari triumph in Souths basketball grand finals

Maiyawala (men) and Epari (women) triumphed in the National Souths Basketball League grand finals at the Hohola Courts in Port Moresby yesterday.
Maiyawala beat Epari 51-48 in the men’s grand final and Epari defeated Maiyawala 36-31 in the women’s showdown.
The men’s final was a thriller as the experience of players from both sides was on show throughout the four quarters of the clash.
It was coast-to-coast basketball all the way as there was little control in both finals.
Several three-pointers by guard and captain Anderson Hewe, Andy Ais and Gabriel Mathew proved the difference in the end.
Ais shot a game-high 13 points and was supported by Mathew 10 of his own. Mathew was named the top point-scorer of the tournament.
Epari were leading but they did not control the momentum which had resulted in Maiyawala’s fightback.
Epari’s PNG international Moses Lune had an off-day and was under pressure from Jerry Turana, Loussy Kiki and Tommy Mare.
Kiki topped scored for his side with 12 points and Mare had 11.
In the women’s final, an experienced Epari outfit was stretched to their limit by Maiyawala’s fighting spirit.
Epari’s PNG internationals Lydia Gotuno, Elina Yala and Emily Mohu were supported by Betty Wong and Henny Wanu in attack.
Gotuno shot a game-high 18 points and was named the player of the tournament and top point scorer. For Maiyawala, Kondo Dikala shot 11 points.
League president Sailas Nicky said the 2020 championships would be held in Lae.
Nicky challenged Port Moresby-based teams to travel to Lae as it was only fair on the Highlands-based teams who had travelled to the nation’s capital.