FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament preview

Papua New Guinea will participate in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament for Men which will be held in Auckland, New Zealand in a little more than a week. Papua New Guinea has been drawn in the Pool A along with New Zealand, New Caledonia and Fiji. This tournament is for the players born in 1986 and after.

Schedule:
PNG - New Caledonia on Oct 15
PNG - New Zealand on Oct 16
PNG - Fiji on Oct 17
Playoffs on Oct 19-21

Extended roster:
Aaron Persy
Apia Muri
Bradley Woo
Charles Parapa (188-G-86)
Hekwa Hekwa
Jivo Korai
Joe Alex
Lou Gudi
Malcolm Gaithier
Michael Kramer
Mika Loko
Nelson Thoa
Paiwa Baldwin (200-C-86)
Rex Nohu
Robert Kave
Russell Stafford
Shedrick Wally Ghabiliha
Tau Gali
Terence Rai

Preview:
Papua New Guinea is still considered as the sleeping giant of the Oceania region. A large population, a great potential but they are lacking money and experience. The PNG players will face some tough opponents in this tournament, the team has been drawn in the hardest group but winning a single game would be a great result for this team. Papua New Guinea will first look to avoir the pool's last spot and a deadly quarterfinal against Australia.
Prevision: 8th

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.