Samoan J.J. Tauai (190-G-85, college: Bradley) played for Geneva in the Eurobasket Summer League ventured to the popular Tarkanian Basketball Academy on Tuesday evening. The group of forty players participating in the event featured guys with NBA, Euroleague, NBDL, CBA, ABA, NCAA and international experience. The ESL in Las Vegas featured the most seven footers and players over 6'9' than any other summer exposure event for the international market.
Samoan J.J. Tauai (190-G-85, college: Bradley) played for Geneva in the Eurobasket Summer League ventured to the popular Tarkanian Basketball Academy on Tuesday evening. The group of forty players participating in the event featured guys with NBA, Euroleague, NBDL, CBA, ABA, NCAA and international experience. The ESL in Las Vegas featured the most seven footers and players over 6'9' than any other summer exposure event for the international market. In his first game of the night Monaco beat Geneva 91:80. The game was a seesaw battle all night as the teams exchanged momentum swings throughout the game. Geneva was down at half time but came storming back and was in the position to win the game but did not benefit from a couple of dubious officiating no calls. Geneva had six players in double figures and had some really talented players on their team including Bennett Davison, Chad Bell, Derrick Franklin, Chris Brooks, Tremaine Dalton, J.J. Tauai and Joseph Frazier. J.J. Tauai produced 7 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists. In the 3rd Place game later Venice dominated Geneva 91:74 and played a lot better team basketball oppose to the night before. Nathan Green led the Venice squad with 17 points; 17 rebounds and 5 assists in an outstanding performance by a quality professional player.Jermaine Dailey had a great game which featured a few amazing dunks as he scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Bennett Davison showed again why he has had an outstanding European career by providing quality play, great decision making and veteran leadership while adding 12 points and 5 assists to lead the Geneva team. J.J. Tauai collected 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assist. He played extremely will and received help from Joseph Frazier, Tremaine Dalton and Dedrick Bates but was overwhelmed by a talented Venice team.
Fiji won its first-ever South Pacific Games Gold medal, the fijians easily defeated Guam in the final game. For the first time since 2001, New Caledonia did not win the Gold at the Pacific level, the caledonians lost in the Bronze medal game against Samoa.
Fiji won its first-ever South Pacific Games Gold medal, the fijians easily defeated Guam in the final game. For the first time since 2001, New Caledonia did not win the Gold at the Pacific level, the caledonians lost in the Bronze medal game against Samoa.
While the pool game was a close contest between Fiji and Guam (71-70), the Gold medal was an easy road for the fijians who were leading by 16 at half-time. In the last SPG edition, Fiji collapsed in the last game but this year they managed to keep their head cool and claimed the coutry's first SPG title. New Caledonia will not win a fourth Pacific tournament in a row, the caledonians were crushed by the host nation for the Bronze. Samoa was already leading 61-39 after three periods.
Gold medal game: Fiji - Guam: 95-58 Laisiasa Puamau 17pts 6/12FG - Andrew Borja 11pts 5/7FG
Bronze medal game: Samoa - New Caledonia: 85-76 Fia Gatolai 18pts 8/8FG - Fabrice Chaliot 18pts 4/5FG
Final Standings: 1- Fiji 2- Guam 3- Samoa 4- New Caledonia 5- Solomon Islands 6- American Samoa 7- Tahiti 8- Palau 9- Cook Islands
Samoa came out firing in the opening minutes of the bronze medal match up against New Caledonia and never looked back. A contrast from their disappointing performance to Fiji in the knock-out rounds.
At half-time Samoa was comfortably in the lead with 41-26 points. New Caledonia had difficulty in breaking Samoa's defense which led to costly turn overs of which Samoa capitalized on.
Samoa came out firing in the opening minutes of the bronze medal match up against New Caledonia and never looked back. A contrast from their disappointing performance to Fiji in the knock-out rounds. At half-time Samoa was comfortably in the lead with 41-26 points. New Caledonia had difficulty in breaking Samoa's defense which led to costly turn overs of which Samoa capitalized on. Play makers Trenson and Bradyn Akana's aggresive style of play put constant pressure on the New Caledonians rewarding Samoa with one too many free throws. Julius Barnes (186-G-81, agency: Octagon, college: Stanford) in a class of himself made a fantastic display of skills sealing Samoa's bronze medal win. Full time score being 85- 76.
SPG2007: Day 8 Results - Fiji and Guam for the Gold
Samoa needed a 5-point win to play the final game of its 2007 South Pacific Games but the host nation was unable to defeat the strong Fijian team, 58-65. The samoans will play against New Caledonia for the Bronze medal while Fiji will face Guam for the Gold medal game. Guam has only won the SPG title once, in 1975 in Guam, while Fiji never claimed the Pacific title.
Samoa needed a 5-point win to play the final game of its 2007 South Pacific Games but the host nation was unable to defeat the strong Fijian team, 58-65. The samoans will play against New Caledonia for the Bronze medal while Fiji will face Guam for the Gold medal game. Guam has only won the SPG title once, in 1975 in Guam, while Fiji never claimed the Pacific title. In the last edition of the Games, in Fiji, the team collapsed during the final game, the fijians will be looking for a sweet redemption in Apia.
Medal Round: Fiji - Samoa: 65-58 Marques Whippy 16pts 7/12FG - Julius Barnes 17pts 5/11FG New Caledonia - Solomon Islands: 70-40 Jean-Jacques Taufana 13pts 5/7FG - Allen Wanefai 15pts 10/15FG American Samoa - Guam: 79-97 Shaun Salave'A 13pts 5/12FG - John Chaco 19pts 8/14FG
Only one day left before the Gold medal game in the 2007 South Pacific Games. Three teams are fighting for the two spots in the final game: Fiji, Guam and Samoa. Fiji is so far undeated after they won by 1 point against Guam. At second equal is Guam and Samoa and the game tonight will decide whether Samoa will play for the gold tomorrow or for the bronze.
Only one day left before the Gold medal game in the 2007 South Pacific Games. Three teams are fighting for the two spots in the final game: Fiji, Guam and Samoa. Fiji is so far undeated after they won by 1 point against Guam. At second equal is Guam and Samoa and the game tonight will decide whether Samoa will play for the gold tomorrow or for the bronze. The Samoa boys will not only have to win their game against Fiji but in order to be number one on the charts, they have to win by 5 or more points. The defending champion New Caledonia will not win another SPG title and will have to defeat the Solomons to play for the Bronze medal.
Medal Round: Guam - New Caledonia: 65-62 William Stinnett 18pts 4/7FG - Fabrice Chaliot 27pts 8/11FG Solomon Islands - Fiji: 54-91 Allen Wanefai 18pts 8/20FG - Marques Whippy 18pts 9/14FG American Samoa - Samoa: 50-78 Ata Perese 22pts 9/18FG - Brandyn Akana 18pts 7/11FG
Day 8 schedule: Fiji - Samoa New Caledonia - Solomon Islands American Samoa - Guam
There are only six teams remaining in the medal race in the South Pacific Games in Samoa. Samoa and Fiji made an important step toward the Gold medal with two great wins over Guam and New Caledonia. In the other medal round game, the Solomon Islands pulled out a surprising win over American Samoa.
There are only six teams remaining in the medal race in the South Pacific Games in Samoa. Samoa and Fiji made an important step toward the Gold medal with two great wins over Guam and New Caledonia. In the other medal round game, the Solomon Islands pulled out a surprising win over American Samoa.
Medal Round: Solomon Islands - American Samoa: 61-56 Waiges Turueke 20pts 5/20FG - Ata Perese 16pts 7/14FG Samoa - New Caledonia: 89-57 Trenson Akana 21pts 5/8FG - Felix Kilikili 14pts 5/12FG Guam - Fiji: 70-71 Andrew Borja 15pts 5/14FG - Marques Whippy 16pts 5/8FG
The tahitians were unable to defeat the host nation Samoa in the last Pool game of the 2007 South Pacific Games. Because of a two-point loss vs Solomon Islands earlier this week, Tahiti will watch the Medal Pool phase from the sideline and the surprising Solomon islanders will have the opportunity to compete for an historical medal.
The tahitians were unable to defeat the host nation Samoa in the last Pool game of the 2007 South Pacific Games. Because of a two-point loss vs Solomon Islands earlier this week, Tahiti will watch the Medal Pool phase from the sideline and the surprising Solomon islanders will have the opportunity to compete for an historical medal. But this won't be an easy road against Fiji, New Caledonia, American Samoa, Guam and Samoa.
Pool A: Day 5: Samoa - Tahiti: 71-39 Brandyn Akana 13pts 4/5FG - Honoura Bonnet 10pts 3/6FG Solomon Islands - Cook Islands: 83-53 Leon Hatigeva 16pts 7/10FG - Daniel Rolls 17pts 7/12FG
