SUVA (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships 2016) - After both the men and women’s Tahiti squads fell short in the bronze medal game of the 2014 FIBA U18 Oceania Championships, Vainui Tehoiri and Hitirai Voirin will be looking to carry their teams one step further this year.

Tehoiri was a member of that 2014 women’s team that lost to Guam in the bronze medal game by just six points. However, Tehoiri would experience a small sense of redemption at the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships, where her Tahiti squad defeated New Caledonia, 59-44, to take home the bronze medal.

Now, with more experience under her belt, Tehoiri is hoping to bring that medal-winning feeling to the 2016 U18 tournament.

While her per-game numbers were modest at both events (2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists at the 2014 U18’s, and 3.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists at the 2015 U16’s), Tehiori enters this year’s championships with a strong understanding of how to win at FIBA Oceania tournaments.

Vainui Tehoiri (middle) celebrates the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championship for Women Bronze Medal

With an uptick in opportunity, expect Tehoiri’s numbers to rise, just like Tahiti’s medal chances will.

On the men’s side, this will be Voirin’s first U18 championships, but after his impressive showing at the 2015 U16’s, don’t think he will be afraid of the big stage.

Playing on a Tahiti team that took home the bronze medal, Voirin averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and one assist at the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships. This included a pair of double-digit scoring games for Voirin, where he flashed his proficient scoring ability.

Along with his knack for putting the ball in the basket, Voirin is a tenacious defender. In the 79-56 bronze medal game victory over New Caledonia at the U16’s, Voirin put on an incredible defensive effort, racking up nine steals. 

If Voirin brings that type of defensive intensity to the U18 championship’s, expect Tahiti to be in the mix when it comes to the medal stages.

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

FIBA