POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
The Tahiti champion, AS Aorai, won its third Pacific Champions Cup with a 55-38 win in Noumea against the caledonian champion AS6km. This is the third win for AS Aorai in this event after the victories in 2003 and 2004.
"We made a very good opening quarter" said coach Pierre Villant. "The girls displayed a great defense, especially on their best player, Soana Lucet. We were confident with this early lead and we could control the tempo of the game. The girls were not playing at their best in the rest of the game but we managed to keep the lead to win this game".
The opening quarter was very good indeed as the tahitians were already leading 10-2 and then 25-7 with a great defense, especially on the targeted best players on the other team: Soana Lucet. The girls held her to 15pts, a great performance because this players scored 74pts in two games against Fiji in the FIBA Oceania Tournament this summer. As Aorai controlled the game in the second and third quarter and was still leading 44-32 at the beginning of the last quarter. The caledonian tried to come back and cut the lead down to 8 but Aorai wouldn't let them come closer. Fauraa and Wong were the team's leading scorer with 13pts and 10pts.
"Of course I'm disapointed but i'm happy with my girls overall, they made a great season" said Miguel Delaveuve. "Tonight the opening five minutes really killed us. The players were under pressure and were used to play against such a good team. The tahitians were agressives and good in defense. I think this loss will be usefull in the future. We will be looking to do another great season next year even without Soana Lucet who would be playing for an american university."
AS6km - Aorai: 38-55 (20-35)
AS6km:
Soana Lucet 15pts
Kathy Bourgeois 8pts
A. Baffico 4pts
Marie-Rose Ofatuku 2pts
Raissa Tabar 2pts
C. Passaaeweko 2pts
MA. Wahmowe 2pts
Catherine Poithily 2pts
Christelle Vautrin 1pts
Vanessa Drayton 0pts
coach: Miguel Delaveuve
Aorai:
F. Fauraa 13pts
H. Wong 10pts
M. Tuheiava 6pts
O. Laille 6pts
MF. Ceran-Jerusalemy 5pts
M. Maraetefau 5pts
I. Liault 4pts
L. Maitere 4pts
P. Fontan 2pts
M. Bonnet 0pts
coach: Pierre Villant
