PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) - Denienne Bray is one of the upcoming stars in Papua New Guinea Basketball.

Rising through the ranks in the youth national teams including a 2016 stint as vice-captain of the Papua New Guinea squad that took home the Bronze Medal in Division B of the FIBA Oceania U18 Championship, Bray has parlayed that to a 2019 Pacific Games selection for the senior's team.

"There were a few years in parts of my life when my family went through a hard time and the only thing I could turn to was basketball, and in those two particular years, I made the training squads and national team," shared Bray.

"That drive I had pushed me, I told myself if I can’t go to school, I might as well train very hard and put our flag colors on with pride. And it was all worth it," she added.

Bray was part of the rotation in last year's quadrennial event in Samoa and is already thinking about the next edition of the Pacific Games.

"As a player, I'm hoping to improve my game and prepare myself both physically and mentally for the next Pacific Games," said Bray. "My dream for basketball in PNG is for both the men and women’s team to win Gold in the next Pacific games to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup."

Aside from her national team duties and aspirations, Bray is also an avid supporter of the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea's Basketball For Good Programs.

"I first got involved with Basketball for good in 2016 when some of the national team players and I would run mums hero programs, basketball clinics at schools and run 3x3 games on the weekends," she shared.

Bray shared that her passion for the Basketball For Good is a product of her experience running the programs and the effect BFPNG programs can do for the youth.

"I continue to help the Federation because I want to give back to my sport that I am most proud of. It’s taken me to places I’ve never been before, meet new people, and influence young kids who are amazed  to see dribbling skills and dunking," she shared excitedly.

"Also the awareness we bring on healthy lifestyle choices when we host ‘Mums a hero’ programs are eye-opening for some of the participants and I am proud to be part of the movement," she added.

The 21-year old's basketball career looks bright but the Papua New Guinea native is already looking forward to the future of PNG basketball with the current crop of players' commitment to the sport.

"I’m hoping to get more girls to play because it’s just as fun as all the other codes of sport, well more fun! It’s the best sport in the world," she shared enthusiastically.

"When we host Basketball For Good programs, our national team players get to stay and interact with mums to play friendly games with them and it motivates them to get up and get active. What more can we ask?" she added.

BFPNG's Mum's A Hero program is supported by the Australian Government through the Pacific Sports Partnerships, and FIBA's Foundation, the International Basketball Foundation.

FIBA