Moment of truth for home sides in basketball

 PAPUA New Guinea women will meet Fiji and our men will go up against Samoa in the second leg of the Pacific Games basketball competition at the Taurama Aquatic Centre today.

In the women’s game, the going will be tough against Fiji while the men take on serious contenders Samoa.

This is the moment of truth following the men’s six-team round robin games and women’s four. 

PNG men’s performance so far has been fired-up by Australian imports Martineng Leahy, Aaron Farmer and the Wright brothers, Liam and Lloyd. The inclusion of the four was telling factor as they combined to produce structure and control in the team’s campaign. 

The combination, especially with the Muri brothers, Apia and Purari, and Gabriel Elavo, has given the locals confidence in their executions in offence. 

All eyes will be on these players to deliver the vital points for PNG to win this crucial match.

They have polished up on their zone defence but need to work overtime on rebounding as well.

The men have so far restored lost pride with an upset win over Fiji and regained confidence and seriousness in their approach to the games.

In the women’s game, PNG will find Fiji a tough nut to crack and should play strong defence to deny their opponents.

PNG’s stylish utility Betty Angula should concentrate on the game and team up with debutant Rosa Kairi, Opa Eko,and Nesta Sape, including veterans Maka Muri, Nape Waka, Louisa Wallace, Emily Koivi, Mary Elavo Junior and Julie Anne Diro against a no-nonsense Fiji outfit.

Today’s fixtures:

Court 1: 9am – Nauru vs Solomon Islands (men); 1pm American Samoa v Guam (men); 3pm – American Samoa vs Tahiti (women’s); 5pm – Fiji vs Tahiti (men). 

Court 2: 12pm – pm Solomon Islands vs Guam (women’s); 2pm – New Caledonia vs Nauru (women’s); 4pm –  New Caledonia vs Kiribati.