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*** FIJI BASKETBALL MAIN PAGE MEN ***
 | Fiji storms past Guam for the Gold | |
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by Eurobasket News - Sep 8, 2007 | |  | Fiji - Guam 95:58
Fiji National team won the Gold medals at the South Pacific Games in Samoa. They defeated Guam in the Final game yesterday to claim the title. Fiji completed the tournament undefeated winning all 7 games. The title decider was highly anticipated as the teams met earlier in the competition and Fiji managed to celebrate a narrow 71:70 win. So the final clash was thought to be a fierce tight battle of well-matched squads.
However Fiji never allowed Guam to produce any sort of intrigue. They took control over the game early on and dominated the court in the first quarter. Fiji players built up a 19:14 lead. Guam could not stay close in the second quarter and bunch of missed shots saw them fall to 22:38 distance from Fiji at halftime. The change in the game was not spotted after the break. Fiji easily overcame Guam defense and piled up their lead. They reached a 65:31 mark after three quarters and already started to celebrate victory. Guam nailed as many as 27 points in the fourth stanza but it never helped them to cut the deficit and Fiji became the new South Pacific Games champions.
Laisiasa Puamau led Fiji with 17 points. Frank Saketa contributed 16 points, while Adrian Bossley had 13 points for the winners. Andrew Borja scored 11 points for Guam. Chris Fernandez and Edward Calvo netted 9 points apiece in defeat.
Fiji shot 54% of field goals and 46% from charity stripe. Guam lacked accuracy from the field posting just 35% and converted 45% of free throws. Fiji pulled down massive 63 rebounds allowing their opponents to grab just 32 boards.
Fiji: Laisiasa Puamau 17, Frank Saketa 16, Adrian Bossley 13
Guam: Andrew Borja 11, Chris Fernandez 9, Edward Calvo 9 |
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| Fiji leaves the hosts without title game | |
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by Eurobasket News - Sep 7, 2007 | | | Fiji - Samoa 65:58
Fiji team continued to dominate the courts in Samoa. They grabbed another victory at the South Pacific Games and remained with a perfect record in the ladder. The win also guaranteed the spot in the Final game for Fiji. Samoa needed a victory by 5 points or more to advance to the title decider but could not beat the main stronghold at the tournament. Fiji entered the game confidently enough and posted an early 22:16 advantage. The home side leveled the game in the second quarter and managed to perform a 14:14 second quarter but still trailed by 6 points at halftime 30:36. The things never changed for Samoa after the break as they still could not find the clue to Fiji defense and limped behind. The gap widened to 9 points at the start of the fourth stanza and Samoa needed heroics to ensure the Final birth. However it did not come and the hosts just outplayed 2 points but it had little impact on the outcome. Fiji will play in the Final.
Marques Wippy paced Fiji with 16 points and 6 boards. Adrian Bossley contributed 14 points for the winners. Samoa responded with 17 points from Julius Barnes (186-G-81, college: Stanford). Brandyn Akana had 11 points in a losing effort.
Fiji shot solid 50% from the field and 57% from charity stripe. They pulled down 48 rebounds and committed just 4 turnovers.
Fiji will most probably face Guam in the Final game.
Fiji: Marques Wippy 16+6 boards, Adrian Bossley 14
Samoa: Julius Barnes 17, Brandyn Akana 11 |
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| Fiji names Preliminary squad for the South Pacific Games | |
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| | | Fiji Basketball submitted a 19-name preliminary squad for the upcoming South Pacific Games which will be held in Samoa at the end of August. This squad is a mix a newcomers and experienced player at the Oceania level but the most pleasant surprise is the come-back of Marques Whippy) who is back in Fiji after a two-year mission for the LDS Church. Whippy was the leader of the Fiji NT in the last SPG in 2003 and has played basketball in high-school in Utah. His brother Leonard is also in the team.
Fiji extended squad - SPG 2007
Jale Waivure
Adrian Bossley
Simione Cinavilakeba
Isikeli Mara
Kolinio Matalau
Ioane Naivalurua
Sakiusa Rokodi Nakalevu
William Josurf Petersen
Laisiasa Puamau
Ratu Saketa
Jese Sikivou
Peniasi Sokosoko
Baravi Thaman
John Tuilevuka
Samisoni Vugakoto
Ratu Waqairawai
Marques Whippy
Tu'i Sikivou
Leonard Whippy |
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| Games to unearth new stars | |
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| | | Coke Games co-ordinator Vuli Waqa reckons this year's Coke Games will be the most competitive.
"Simply because we're looking at the bulk of athletes to represent Fiji at the SPG in Samoa to come out of the Coke Games, Waqa said yesterday.
The Fiji Secondary School School Athletics Association national finals will be held over April 27-28 at the Post Fiji Stadium but the eliminations begin next week with the Suva Zone One and Two meets next Thursday and Friday.
Waqa said they'd be looking at unearthing another new star this year following the revelation of Suva Grammar's Niko Verekatua last year.
Verekauta is based in New Zealand. He is on Olympic Solidarity Scholarship at the Oceania High Performance Training Centre with high jumper Rajend Prasad. Verekauta, 21, has a personal best of 46.28 seconds in the 400m. He ran 46.77 at the World Junior Championships in Beijing last year where he finished in fourth place in one of the semi-finals.
More overseas stints
Team Fiji is looking at another "five or six athletes to move across to Brisbane to train with Fijian track queen Makelesi Bulikiobo, under the guidance of coach Lloyd Way.
Last weekend at the Australian Championships in Brisbane, Bulikiobo ran best times in nearly every start, including a fourth in the final of the 200m and fourth in the final of the 400m.
Way said her best breakthrough was 53.85s in the 400m while in the 200m she ran 23.95s which is the first time this season she has broken 24s, while in the final she ran 23.65s to come fifth.
"That was a big breakthrough, she ran in lane two in the final, Way told Radio Australia.
Distance runner Isireli Naikelekelevesi joins the Brisbane-based Pacific squad in two weeks.
Way said the islanders thrived on hard work.
"They've really made a mark, as far as athletics in Australia at the weekend, I think a few people where very surprised, he said.
Way was also impressed by Papua New Guinea's female runner Mae Koime, who broke through with an Olympic B qualifying time in Brisbane.
Way said Koime's enormous personal best of 11.37s. (down from her previous personal best 11.71s) gave her the silver medal and boosted her regional ranking from eighth to second.
Koime went on to win her second silver of the meet in the 200m, clocking 23.38s behind triple New Zealand sprint champion, Monique Williams (23.28s.).
Cash input
Getting more athletes to train in Brisbane will come down to the financial aspect of Team Fiji's preparations.
A boost though for those vying for the trip to Samoa is the financial backing from the Fosters Group of companies.
The company has given $20,000 to FASANOC to cater for the levy of track and field athletes.
As it stands, there will be a levy of $900 per athlete for the trip and athletes can be grateful for the help from the brewery firm.
Quality over depth
This year's athletics squad won't lack quality but will be short in depth.
The financial demand is the contributing factor. The team could be forced to only take A-grade qualifiers, with B and B and C grade qualifiers, mainly silver and bronze hopefuls to be left out.
Athletics won 17 gold, 14 silvers and 15 bronze to top its section at the 2003 Games, ahead of New Caledonia (11, 7, 5).
The target this time is 20. Overall Team Fiji won 65 gold, 59 silver and 53 bronze medals in Suva and was placed second behind New Caledonia. This year Team Fiji is aiming for 75 gold medals.
The SPG will be held from August 25-September 8 with Fiji participating in the following sports, 31 in all: Archery, athletics, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, bodybuilding, bowls, boxing, cricket, football, golf, hockey, judo, netball, powerlifting, outrigger canoeing, rugby league, rugby union, shooting, sailing, squash, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, touch rugby, volleyball and weightlifting.
(Courtesy of Fiji Times) |
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| EXCLUSIVE Interview with Michael Whippy (National Team coach) | |
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| | | We discussed with Michael Whippy, coach of the Fiji Men team in the 2006 FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament and coach of the Fiji Women team in the upcoming 2007 South Pacific Games. We talked about his experience, about the state of basketball in the country and about his family.
Since how many years are you a basketball coach in Fiji?
I first coached nationally at the 1999 Guam SPG. I was an assistant to the mens head coach.
You're family features many Fiji national rep like your daughters Mikaelar and Letava. How do you explain that?
Having played and enjoyed the game at international level, the switch to coaching was an easy one. I met my wife Caroline on the basketball court so it was only natural that our children grew up in the gym.
Who is the next great player coming from your family?
My nephews are developing well and with their exposure in NZ, last year and this year, they will be contributors to our national program in a few years time. Letava works hard on her game and will also continue to develop if she keeps up this work ethic.
If you had an unlimitted amount of money, what would you change in Fiji basketball?
I would build an indoor basketball facility in every town, throughout the islands, run a year round semi-pro national club league, run a year long secondary school league and build a national basketball institute.
The country is having some political issues in the past monthes, how does that affect the sport there?
Sport is the least affected. In fact the current political crises has resulted in sports people devoting more time to their respective disciplines to take their attention away from the ploitics.
You were the coach of Fiji's team in the last FIBA Oceania Youth tournament. What is your review about this tournament?
I actually coached the mens team but our women did exceptionally well in the tournament considring it was a first time for most of the athletes at an international competition. The tournament was great. The kids forged what will be some life long freindships with athletes from other countries and the oppurtunity to play and learn more about the game was well worth the expense of going there.
Which were the best players in your team?
In the womens team I think that all the girls played above themselves. Success for each player at tournaments like this cannot sometimes be measured by the stats that they put up. For some of them, just wearing the black and white or just playing against youth of other nations would have been a highlight for them. The athletes who did standout however did so because of their past experience in international tournaments.
How do you handle the fact that you're coaching your daughter Letava too?
I treat Letava like any of the other national players. Sometimes because she is my daughter, I think I push her too hard.
Many fijians are living in New Zealand and Australia. Do you know if some of them might be valuable addition for Fiji NT?
I have a fair idea of the players of fijian descent in Australia and new Zealand. Unfortunately they cannot represent Fiji unless they hold a Fijian passport. If this criteria is relaxed then I believe that we could have quite formidable men and women NTs.
What will be Fiji goals in the 2007 South Pacific Games?
My goal for the women is to play to our potential. I believe that if we can do this consistently, we will be in the final game.
Did you already start to think about your roster for the Games?
I have been thinking about this since I started preparing the squad in august 2006.
Apart from Letava, who is the best player under 18 in Fiji?
We have Ofa Moce, Sera Colata, Natasha Ratuva, Brittany Hazelman and Loucretia Hussain. All of these players have great potential
FIBA Oceania has to provide a third team behind Australia and New Zealand to play in the 2008 Olympics Qualifying Tournament. Do you think Fiji could be that team?
If we were given the oppurtunity, I think we could compete with these teams.
It seems that FIBA Oceania won't send a third team is this team would be unable to resist against the other teams from around the World. Do you think Fiji could play against european or american teams?
The more international competition we get the quicker we will develop in the game. Playing against American and European teams will help us achieve this.
Fiji has never field a team in FIBA Oceania World qualifying events against Australia and New Zealand. Why?
Funding is the main reason.
How do you rate the basketball in Fiji?
Considering that all our tall athletes are taken away by rugby and netball, our national teams have done well in the South pacific region over the last few years. If we had funding to develop the game we would be able to do even better.
How do you see you're future in basketball? And what about your daughters and sons?
For me, I will continue to coach as long as I can, at club and at national level. For my daughters and my son, baketball has been a good grounding for them. It has taught them to manage their time, work on their weaknesses and how to handle success and failure. If all this can help them to become good parents and citizens then I will be very happy. |
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| FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament: recap | |
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| | | In New Zealand, Fiji made a good pool phase in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament but was not playing at the same level in the playoffs. After a devastating loss to Tahiti, Fiji ended at the 6th place. A real disapointement for a team who managed to defeat the Bronze medal winner New Caledonia.
Since the Whippy and Wesley brothers are too old, Fiji has to find new leaders for its youth teams. Some players were really noticeable in this year's roster like the PG Erwin Hussain (G) or the inside duo made of Isikeli Mara (202-C) and Jesoni Kuruyawa (F). As usual with the fijian teams, confidence and focus are two though things to find. After a good pool phase, the team chemistry disappeared. This is not new for Fiji, the senior team experienced the same thing in the past like for example in the 2003 South Pacific Games. The fijians coaches really needs to work on that and teach their players to stay focus until the final game.
A 41-point loss to Tahiti and a 22-point loss to Guam are not logical results for such a good team. But the future looks bright anyway for this team before the 2007 South Pacific Games where Fiji should be able to put on a solid team, hopefully with all the best players available, and this time Fiji should play at 100% during the entire tournament.
Pools:
Fiji - New Zealand: 49-124
A tough loss to start the tournament against the host nation en-route to the Gold medal. The teams were not playing on the same level but despite this huge loss, Erwin Hussain made a good game.
Stats: Erwin Hussain 17pts 6/14FG 5rbs, Isikeli Mara 9pts 4/18FG 13rbs, Jesoni Kuruyawa 7pts 3/5FG 5rbs
Fiji - New Caledonia: 87-76
With this win, Fiji almost secured the second place in the pool. That was the best game for the fijian during the tournament thanks to a great offensive performance from Erwin Hussain.
Stats: Erwin Hussain 26pts 11/24FG 7rbs 5ast, Tu'I Sikivou 15pts 6/10FG 7rbs, Jesoni Kuruyawa 14pts 7/9FG 8rbs
Fiji - Papua New Guinea: 85-65
A pretty easy win to close the pool phase over the papuans. Erwin Hussain stepped back in this game and let his teamates shined like the 202-cm center Isikeli Mara.
Stats: Isikeli Mara 21pts 10/13FG 11rbs 2bs, Jesoni Kuruyama 19pts 8/16FG 11rbs, Andrew Paris 11pts 4/8FG 4rbs
Pool Standing:
1- New Zealand
2- Fiji
3- New Caledonia
4- Papua New Guinea
Quarterfinals:
Fiji - Tahiti: 54-95
A very disapointing game for the fijians after a brilliant pool phase. The team was hold to 24.0%FG but a good tahitian defense and recorded one of their worst loss in the country history. Isikeli Mara was the only player able to get something done with 21pts 9rbs and 6bs but his teamates were helpless.
Stats: Isikeli Mara 21pts 9/18FG 9rbs 6bs, Erwin Hussain 8pts 1/15FG 5rbs, Jesoni Kuruyawa 5pts 1/11FG 12rbs 5ast
Classification:
Fiji - Papua New Guinea: 85-77
Another bad game but the team was able to stay focus to avoid another embarassing loss. Isikeli Mara, Erwin Hussain and Andrew Paris combined for 62pts.
Stats: Isikeli Mara 23pts 8/22FG 14rbs 2bs, Erwin Hussain 16pts 7/21FG 6rbs 6ast, Andrew Paris 13pts 5/5FG
5th place game:
Fiji - Guam: 68-90
A disapointing game to close a disapointing tournament, the fijians were not playing at their best in the playoffs and seemed not motivated by the classification games. Fiji made a good opening quarter but was unable to stop the guameses in the rest of the game.
Stats: Erwin Hussain 17pts 7/17FG, Jesoni Kuruyawa 9pts 3/11FG 13rbs, Isikeli Mara 8pts 4/7FG 9rbs 2bs
Final Standings:
1- New Zealand
2- Australia
3- New Caledonia
4- Tahiti
5- Guam
6- Fiji
7- American Samoa
8- Papua New Guinea
Players recap:
Isikeli Mara (202-C)
The lone legit center of the team was without any doubt the best fijian player during the week. He was the team's leader in point, rebounds, blocks and minutes played. Very skinny and still pretty raw, he can become a really great player but he might need to leave his homeland to improve. He's still young and has a lot of room to improve. He was selected in the Oceania All-Star Team.
Erwin Hussain (G)
The point-guard and team's general, Hussain made a good tournament but was a non-factor when his shot was off. His 1/15FG performance in the quarterfinal against Tahiti was a blow-out for his team. He must find other way to help his team rather than take bad shots. He has the tools and can be really damaging but he needs to improve his decision making.
Jesoni Kuruyawa (F)
The power forward was a solid third option and almost averaged a double-double during the tournament. Strong body, good hands, he can find the open man or finish the fastbreak with fashion. He was selected in the Oceania All-Star Team.
Andrew Paris (G)
A streaking three-point scorer who can break a lot of defense when he's hot. Unfortunatly he only hit 6/18 from the three-point range and wasn't consistent during the week.
Simione Seruvatu (F)
The starting small forward wasn't very efficient on the scoring sheet due to a lack of long-distance shooting but he did a good jobs on the rebounds and managed to score some points in the paint.
Josevata Buresole (G/F)
The team's sixth man tried to bring his scoring from the bench but struggled with his three-point shots.
Tu'I Sikivou (F)
The only valuable inside player on the bench, he only took high percentage shots near the basket and was pretty good at it.
Viliame Moce (G)
A good all-around player on the bench, he can do everything on the court expect shooting from the three-point line.
Douglas Compain (188-G-91)
Simon Compain's younger brother mostly played as back-up PG during this tournament. He did a good job but shooting remains a concern.
John Miller (F/C)
The back-up inside player is not very gifted offensively and was limitted to 9 minutes per game.
Stats:
Isikeli Mara (202-C) 14.3pts 40.9%FG (0/5 3pts) 11.3rbs 0.7ast 2.8bs 1.3st 35min 6gp
Erwin Hussain (G) 14.3pts 35.9%FG (12/35 3pts) 4.2rbs 3.3ast 0.0bs 1.2st 26min 6gp
Jesoni Kuruyawa (F) 9.5pts 40.4%FG (1/1 3pts) 9.5rbs 2.2ast 0.3bs 1.0st 30min 6gp
Andrew Paris (G) 7.7pts 40.9%FG (6/18 3pts) 2.8rbs 0.8ast 0.2bs 1.3st 22min 6gp
Simione Seruvatu (F) 6.8pts 26.2%FG 6.0rbs 1.0ast 0.2bs 0.7st 26min 6gp
Josevata Buresole (G/F) 6.2pts 33.3%FG (3/10 3pts) 3.0rbs 0.3ast 0.0bs 1.5st 18min 6gp
Tu'I Sikivou (F) 4.3pts 55.6%FG (1/3 3pts) 2.0rbs 0.5ast 0.2bs 0.8st 12min 6gp
Viliame Moce (G) 3.2pts 33.3%FG 2.5rbs 1.7ast 0.0bs 0.7st 11min 6gp
Douglas Compain (188-G-91) 3.2pts 25.0%FG (2/8 3pts) 2.2rbs 1.2ast 0.0bs 0.3st 11min 6gp
John Miller (F/C) 1.2pts 22.2%FG (0/2 3pts) 0.7rbs 0.7ast 0.0bs 0.2st 9min 6gp |
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| FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament preview | |
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Fiji will try to win another Gold medal after the 2002 title but this year in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in Auckland, the road may be a little bit to hard for the fijians. Playing with pride and a lot of athleticism, Fiji will try to sneak between Australia and New Zealand to claim a medal.
Schedule:
Fiji - New Zealand on Oct 15
Fiji - New Caledonia on Oct 16
Fiji - Papua New Guinea Oct 17
Playoffs on Oct 19-21
Roster:
Andrew Paris
Douglas Compain (188-G-91)
Erwin Hussain
Isikeli Mara (202-C)
Jesoni Kuruyawa
John Miller
Josevata Buresole
Simione Seruvatu
Tul Sikivou
Villiame Moce
Preview:
There is a lot of talent in Fiji, some great coaches and great athletes but since the 2002 title, Fiji has been pretty disapointing in the FIBA Oceania events. The Marques Whippy generation is now to old to play in this tournament and the week in New Zealand would be interresting to evaluate the talent of the new youngsters in Fiji. Fiji is coming in New Zealand without the talented brothers Martin Liebregts (208-C-89) and Lyndon Liebgregts (194-G-91). The team could be a little short to compete against New Caledonia and Guam for the Bronze behind Australia and New Zealand.
Prevision: 5th
You can follow this tournament on our special "FIBA Youth Tournament 2006" page, we will post a recap of the team's games during this event in the days following the Gold medal. Stay tuned. |
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| Fiji U20 National Team 2006 | |
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