Rivals clash in PMBL

By JACK AMI
ARCH rivals Southern Flames and Moni Plus face off in the main fixture of the PNG Men’s Basketball League’s major semifinal at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre tomorrow.
The winner of this match advances to the grand final while the loser plays the winner of Saints and Exodus pending administrative issues on registration payments.
Flames have grabbed another minor premiership and are unbeaten this season having beaten rivals Moni Plus twice in the regular season and are favourites to claim another title.
Moni Plus are the underdogs but have the talent to make the more athletic Flames work hard for their championship.
The three-time champions with the Muri brothers Apia and Purariand Moses Lune have brushed aside all before them in the regular season with their high tempo, physical style.
Flames coach Moi Muri with three premierships under his belt has a team of some of the best talent in the country and also includes raising star Cornelius Muri.
Moni Plus coach Boyet Daroya told The National yesterday that they were without guard Anderson Hewe (away in Bali), the Kave brothers Robert and Emmanuel (injured) and Don Elavo, who is away in Alotau on work commitment, but he was confident his roster could get the job done.
Daroya said his go-to men would be shooters Mark Palisoc and Ryan Delostrinos and Gabriel Elavo, centre James Banduru and Greg Travertz to counter Flames.
“Our problem is defence. We really have to step up and work harder while taking our offence to the next level,” Daroya said.
“We have to consider the tempo we play at because we don’t want to fade in the final quarter.”