PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) – Day two of the championship was hot and humid at Sir John Guise Arena where Australia and New Zealand cruised to victory.

In a physical game, the men from Samoa pushed Australia from tip-off, but the men in green and gold triumphed, 120-63.  Goc Malual led the way off the bench to finish with a double-double, 15-13, while Emmett Adair, not to be out done by his roommate, Malual, finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

“It was a tough game, the Samoan boys are very physical and always crashing the glass, so it was good for us to get amongst it with them and play hard basketball,” Adair said.

“I think we had a slow start as a group, but we picked it up in the second half, we were more physical and played at our pace and our game, keeping to our sets.”

Roommates Emmett Adair and Goc Malual

Semika Nee and Shammah Poto performed solidly for team Samoa, accumulating 32 points between them.

New Zealand were too strong for the local Papua New Guinea (PNG) team in the second men’s game of the day running out 76-point winners, 108-32.

New Zealander Forward, Kahuranaki Treacher finished with a game high of 22 points while Carter Hopoi shot at over 80 percent, racking up 18 points.

“It was a different game, so hot out there, but it was good to start the tournament with a win,” Hopoi said.  “It has been great representing New Zealand, we have good coaching staff and as a team unit we have connected well, so we are looking forward to the rest of the games.”

Day three of the Championship is shaping up to be the hotly contested with Samoa taking on Guam and New Zealand up against the defending champions, Australia.

“I’m ready for it, we know we can win,” said Hopoi as the Junior Tall Blacks prepare for battle against Australia.

About the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship

The 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship will be hosted by the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby at Sir John Guise Stadium from October 2 to 6.  The Championships serve as the first step in the qualification process to the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup.  The top two placed teams at the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championships qualify to the 2024 FIBA U18 Asian Championships.