PNG beat Tahiti in boil-over

 By JACK AMI

PAPUA New Guinea caused the another big upset last night beating Tahiti 81-70 in the first cross over leg of the 2015 Pacific Games basketball competition at the Taurama Aquatic Centre.

This is PNG’s second upset win at the Games; the first one was over Fiji 75-73 in their Pool B match.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said after the match that it was a wonderful win. 

O’Neill sat in the supporters’ stand with his wife Lady Lindah Babao-O’Neill to watch the PNG men romp home.

He congratulated the players and coaching staff on their victory.

In front of a jam-packed home crowd, PNG did it in style beating another gold medal contender – by nine points.

PNG trailed Tahiti in all three quarters 20-13, 36-34 and 57-54 but recovered  in the crucial stage with a top performance to clinch 81 to the opposition’s 70 to cause the boil over.

It was debutant guard Gabriel Elavo’s five three-pointers from six attempts that hurt the Tahitians with the youngster adding four for total of 19 points.

He was supported by Aaron Farmer, who netted 19, Liam Wright 13, Martineng Leahy 11, and Apia Muri 11. 

Robert Kave and Purari Muri were instrumental in the win as well.

PNG coach Joel Khalu used Leahy, Farmer, the Wright brothers, the Muri brothers, Elavo and Robert Kave to maintain their shooting options and the players created havoc on the opposition time and again.

Tahiti captain Aririmarau Meuei top-scored the evening with 29 points.