Oceania Youth: Interview with Julie-Anne Diro

Julie-Anne Diro (F-86) is the captain of the Papua New Guinea in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in Auckland. She spoke with the reporters after her team's first game. PNG won the game 65-40 but Diro recorded only 6pts 2/10FG and 2st in 27 minutes.
Source: Basketball New Zealand

Is this your first time outside PNG?
No, this is my third junior tournament and I also went to the Mini SP Games in Palau last year.

Well, this is your first time in New Zealand?
Yes. In terms of geography, New Zealand is a beautiful place, but really cold. The girls are finding it hard adjusting to the weather. It is about 24-25 degrees back home where we play outdoors.

You speak english very well. Is that normal in PNG?
No. For many in my team, english is a second language, but I learnt through an international school. There are three others that speak english but the majority go to local schools with teachers who can't speak english fluently.

This is your third tournament, what do you like most about them?
I have made many friends from these tournaments but I really enjoy the clinics. Where we are from, we don't get coaching like this. The fundamentals they teach really help us. We count ourselves very fortunate to come on trips like this.

You beat Guam in your first game, How did you feel about that performance?
I was not too happy with my own game, but as a team, we did very well. There are a lot of things I need to improve on tomorrow as captain. There are only a few of us who have been to tournaments offshore and I expected heaps of butterflies, but the girls handed it very well.