SUVA (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships 2016) - Samoa enters this year's FIBA U18 Oceania Championships aiming to improve on a promising performance in the 2014 tournament, and a lot of their fortunes will be placed on the shoulders of Linda Kelsall and Robert Wayne Sio.  

For the Samoan women’s squad, one that reached the semi-finals in the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championship for Women, Kelsall looms as a vital presence in the team. Kelsall was able to show glimpses of what she can provide in the 2014 competition, where she averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.

It was in a game against American Samoa, though, where Kelsall flashed her immense talent level. In that outing, Kelsall finished with 18 points and four rebounds, while shooting 6-of-20 from the floor and 5-of-14 from beyond the three-point line. If Kelsall can bring that level of play to the 2016 tournament, it bodes well for Samoa’s medal chances. 

Along with participating in the U18 championships, Kelsall was also the recently appointed the National Basketball Development Officer (NBDO) for Samoa, becoming the youngest of the 9 NBDO's throughout the Oceania and Asia region.

Kelsall also participated in the 2016 Pacific Youth Leaders (PYL) Basketball camp earlier this year.

"Linda really showed her potential as a leader during the PYL camp," said FIBA Development Manager - Oceania and former Australian Opal, Annie La Fleur. "Even with English being her second language, she was always the first to step up and lead the other athletes. Linda even organised the closing ceremony performance by the participants."

Kelsall's leadership skills will be on display again at this year's tournament.

For the men, who reached the finals stage at the 2014 tournament, Wayne will be looking to build on a positive effort two years ago to help take Samoa one step further in December.

#13 Sio taking on Australia in the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championship for Men

Wayne averaged 5.7 points and 8.0 rebounds for Samoa in 2014, but like Kelsall, he had one standout game that showcased his basketball ability. In a loss to New Caledonia, Wayne put up 12 points on a highly efficient 5-of-8 shooting from the field, while also pulling down seven rebounds. The Samoan men open their 2016 FIBA U18 Oceania Championship campaign against New Caledonia, so Wayne’s team has an immediate chance at revenge.  

Wayne would go on to solidify his dominance on the glass, pulling down 12 rebounds in two of the six games he played in. If he is able to control the glass, command the defence and provide some scoring along the way, Wayne will be a force to be reckoned with in Fiji.

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

FIBA