Tamaraws ready to face Fiji’s best basketballers

By JACK AMI
PNG Men’s Basketball League cham­pions Moni Plus Tamaraws are in pool B in the 17-team Fiji National Championship that bounced off last night at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
Tamaraws were to have played Fiji champions Saints last night.
The pool matches are predicted to be tough as most teams comprise of former and current Fiji national players calling the shots.
That will make it harder for the Papua New Guinea team as the only foreigners in the tournament.
The PMBL champs feature the Elavos – Bernard, nephews Harold, Joe and grand nephews Gabriel and Dodong.
That is similar to Fiji’s Saints with the Whippy connection in Leonard and Marcus as well as Jese Sikivou, a former Fiji international.
Tamaraws has the Parapa brothers – Wally, Emmanuel – Robert Kave and Richard Arava to bank on against the other big names in Fiji.
Head coach Boyet Daroya will rely on Bernard, Joe Harold, Parapa, Kave and Arava who are current and former PNG international players.
Pool B consists of Mac Pacers, Outcydaz and Titans. Pool A Tribal, Boston Red, Veterans and Idaman. Pools C are Warriors, Bryceland, Chances and Namoli. Pool D Boston White, Golden Bati, New Era and West Saints all vying for the top prize of Fiji $1,000 (K900).
Tonight at 9pm, the Tamaraws play Outcydaz. Tomorrow they have a bye and play the Titans on Friday. The game against Mac Pacers will complete their pool matches. In order for the PNG team to make the quarter-finals they must win at least three games.
All the quarter, semi and grand finals are on Saturday.