POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Apia Muri
SEMIFINALS
Guam-New Zealand 75:77
New Zealand escape the narrow win to enter the Final of the Pacific Championship. The hosts of the tournament overcame Guam 77:75 and will take on Australia in the Final game. Guam meanwhile will play against Samoa in the game for the third place.
New Zealand opened the game with a 20-16 run, while Guam looked better in the second frame. The latter bounced back with a 19-16 rally and reduced to 1 point at the halftime. New Zealand managed to add 24-23 win in the third quarter as both teams posted 17 points each for the final result in the last stanza.
Bailey-Nowell paced all the winners with 25 points and Shea Ili added 14. Puke Lenden poured in 11, whilst Randall Bishop had 9. Jesus Cruz ended up with 19 points in a loss and Mekeli Wesley shot 18. Joseph Blas chipped in with 15, whilst William Stinnett (186-G-86, college: Wenatchee Valley CC) had 10.
Guam: Jesus Cruz 19, Mekeli Wesley 18, Joseph Blas 15, William Stinnett 10
New Zealand: Bailey-Nowell 25, Shea Ili 14, Puke Lenden 11, Randall Bishop 9
Australia- Samoa 85:79
Australia advanced to the Final of the Pacific Championship 2013. The favorites overcame Samoa 85:79 in the Semifinal clash and will take on New Zealand in the Final game. Samoa will take on Guam in the game for the third place.
Australia started the game with an 18-14 lead and added 29-18 run in the second period. Samoa looked better in the second half and managed to catch up with the opponents. They won the third period 21-20 and finished the game with a 26-18 rally. It was not enough however to win the game as Australia advanced to the Final with an 85:79 win.
Tanner Krebs (192-G-96) top-scored for the winners with 19 points and Kai Woodfall poured in 18. Michael Healy notched 12, whilst Gerasimos McKay added 10. Valance McCarthy ended up with 25 points in defeat and George Leafa produced 24. Charles Epati delivered 12, whilst Damien Ikenasio scored 10.
Australia: Tanner Krebs 19, Kai Woodfall 18, Michael Healy 12, Gerasimos McKay 10
Samoa: Valance McCarthy 25, George Leafa 24, Charles Epati 12, Damien Ikenasio 10
Fiji- Papua New Guinea 73:60
Fiji outscore Papua New Guinea at the Play-offs of the Pacific Championship. They clinched a 73:60 win and will play for the 5th place against New Caledonia. Tahiti tomorrow will take on Papua New Guinea in the game for the last position.
Fiji took 22-12 lead at the end of the first period, but Papua New Guinea reduced to 6 at the halftime. The latter needed a 17-13 rally for 35:29. Moreover Papua New Guinea won the third period 16-14 and trailed 4 points with 10 minutes to go. Fiji however finished the game with a 24-15 run to seal the victory.
Sowakula top-scored for the winners with 21 points and Kacibalavu nailed 13. Sikivou produced 10, whilst Waymann Whippy had 9. Apia Muri finished the game with 19 points in defeat and Robert Kave had 12. Joe Elavo finished the game with 9 points and Purari Muri notched 8.
Fiji: Sowakula 21, Kacibalavu 13, Sikivou 10, Waymann Whippy 9
Papua New Guinea: Apia Muri 19, Robert Kave 12, Joe Elavo 9, Purari Muri 8
New Caledonia-Tahiti 61:60
New Caledonia pip Tahiti in Wellington at the Play-off of the Pacific Championship. New Caledonia posted a thrilling 61:60 win and will take tomorrow on Fiji. Tahiti will play against
Papua New Guinea in the game for the last place.
New Caledonia won the first period 12-8 and added 18-17 rally in the second frame. Both teams scored 19 points each in the third stanza while Tahiti did all their best to win the game. They ended up with a 16-12 surge in the last stanza, but it was enough only to reduce to 1 point.
Jacques Taufana stepped up with 13 points and Hnawia brought 12. Ruben Ha Ho scored 10, whilst Loic Meztdorf delivered 9. Ariitu and Teihotu produced 14 points each in defeat and Eddy Commings netted 10. Meuel followed them with 9 points in a loss.
New Caledonia: Jacques Taufana 13, Hnawia 12, Ruben Ha Ho 10, Loic Meztdorf 9
Tahiti: Ariitu 14, Teihotu 14, Eddy Commings 10, Meuel 9
