SUVA (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships 2016) - After New Caledonia reached a high level of success at the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships, they’ll be looking to better it this year.

New Caledonia’s women’s squad finished fifth in 2014, but Cynderella Fanalupe will be looking to get her nation into the medal stages this year. On the men’s side, Jeroboam Fenuafanote will hope New Caledonia’s bronze medals from 2014 become gold in 2016.    

Fanalupe has immense experience in FIBA Oceania tournaments. She competed in the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships for Women, and also was a member of the New Caledonian squad at the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships. 

In 2014, Fanalupe averaged 2.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, Fanalupe was able to show her defensive instincts in a game against Papua New Guinea, where she recorded three blocks.

Cynderella Fanalupe taking on Australia in the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championship

Fanalupe’s experience at the 2014 U18’s seemed to carry into the 2015 U16’s, where she made her presence felt. The 17-year-old averaged 8.5 points and 7.5 rebounds at the tournament. This included a standout game against New Zealand, where Fanalupe showed her efficiency, scoring 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, along with six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Fanalupe looms as a key cog in New Caledonia’s medal chances.

While he doesn’t boast as much experience as Fanalupe, expect Fenuafanote to have just as big of an impact.

Fenuafanote was New Caledonia’s leading scorer at the 2015 U16’s, averaging 10.8 points per game. Additionally, Fenuafanote also contributed seven rebounds a game at the tournament, displaying his ability to score and rebound with the best of them.

Fenuafanote has a skilled offensive game, one that is effective on the inside and outside. In an 18-point effort against New Zealand, Fenuafanote went 7-of-13 on two-point field goals, showing his impressive inside game. Fenuafanote was able to get his outside shot going in an outing against Australia, where he went 3-of-6 from beyond the three-point line.

This type of offensive explosiveness from Fenuafanote will be vital for New Caledonia at this year’s tournament. If history has taught as anything, it’s that Fenuafantoe will be comfortable scoring the ball come tournament time.

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