SUVA (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships 2016) - After a highly successful effort in 2014, Guam enters the 2016 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships full of confidence. This belief is spearheaded by duo Brittany Meno and Kobe Sotelo.

Meno, who was a member of Guam’s women’s team in the 2014 tournament, will look to showcase her scoring and rebounding abilities at this year’s championships. Guam earned a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships, defeating Tahiti, 54-48, to secure the medal.

With increased playing time in store for Meno, Guam hopes to take one step further and reach the gold medal game this year. In 2014, Meno averaged four points and 3.7 rebounds, with 1.7 of them being on the offensive glass.

#13 Brittany Meno during the 2014 FIBA Oceania U18 Championship for Women

We saw Meno’s potential in glimpses in 2014, with her having scoring games of eight and seven points, and four outings with four or more rebounds. As Meno receives a greater chance to get on the court this year, she’ll be a vital cog in Guam’s hunt for another piece of silverware.

On the men’s side, Sotelo brings tournament experience, as he participated in the 2014 championships, and the knowledge that he acquired at the region’s first ever 2016 Basketball Without Borders Camp. Sotelo relished the opportunity, being the only athlete selected from Guam.

“It’s a really great privilege [to be here], I feel honored and am using this opportunity to the fullest,” Sotelo commented on his experience during the camp in July this year.

Guam had a respectful showing at the 2014 event, but they fell just short of making the bronze medal game. They’ll be out for revenge this year, and Sotelo’s scoring capabilities will help them achieve it.

Sotelo averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 2014, which included a 12-point showing in the tournament’s opening game against the Solomon Islands. In that game, Sotelo shot 4-of-6 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line, an efficiency that’ll go a long way in getting Guam to a medal game.

With the invaluable lessons he learnt at the BWB Camp, Sotelo should be an integral part of Guam’s 2016 campaign.

Guam has their sights set on winning more than just the play of the tournament this time around.

The 2016 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships will take place in Suva, Fiji, from the 5th to 10th of December.

FIBA