West Jokers set on dousing Flames

 MORESBY West Jokers face a star-studded Southern Flames in the Papua New Guinea Men’s Basketball League Round 8 clash tomorrow night.

Flames, unbeaten in their first seven matches, lead the competition ladder on 14 points, while the Jokers have a 2-5 season so far and will need to pull out something special at the Filipino Association Court in Gordon to post an unlikely win.

On Sunday, Tamaraws take on Saints and Monday sees Exodus and Chariots do battle.

The game between the Flames and the Jokers is essentially between the leading stars of city and country basketball against the future of the sport.

The Jokers supplied the national youth team that won the Northern Territory tournament last month with four teenagers — James Banduru Jr, Wali Alia Polo, Daniel Alia Kone  and Michael Henry.

Banduru and Aila Polo are out injured but that will not change the way the Jokers play and this could be their undoing or prove to be the answer to being competitive against the defending premiers.

Flames coach Moi Muri will expect his side to go for maximum points against Jokers in order to consolidate their position at the top of the ladder.

Fixtures: Sat, Apr 11 – Flames vs Jokers; Sun, Apr 12 – Tamaraws vs Saints; Mon, Apr 13 – Exodus vs Chariots.