PNG men have big hurdle in their quest for basketball gold

 THE Papua New Guinea men’s basketball team has a big hurdle to overcome in its quest for the gold medal in the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

For them (PNG men) it has been a long drought since 1971 when PNG won a bronze medal in Papette, Tahiti. 

Since then and for the next 44 years, PNG has not claimed a single medal in Pacific Games 

basketball.  

But the PNG team in the 2015 has some promise of a medal in sight with four Australian imports and eight local stars who are determined to accomplish something on home ground.

After three games, their performance against hot favourites New Caledonia and Fiji has indicated a lot of improvement with the input of Australian coach Joel Khalu and local coach Morris Asiba doing an incredible job.

They lost to New Caledonia 77- 74 and edged Fiji 75-73 to put them in a perfect position against the two teams in pool B competition.

The team is more organised and structured to combine and coordinate as a strong unit to achieve their dreams on home turf.

With one or two players intending to retire from international duties, this Pacific Games is the best place to end it all and walk out with a medal to farewell the Pacific Games forever.

In the cross-over matches, PNG plays Guam, Tahiti and Samoa. 

At the 2011 Pacific Games in Noumea, the three dominant teams of New Caledonia, Guam and Tahiti won the medals.  

PNG women won the bronze medal in Apia, Western Samoa, in 2007 and not won another medal since.