The 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa (July 8-17) is the official Qualifier to the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers. The top 2 teams will qualify to the next round of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualification phase.

Apia (Samoa) -- Tahiti national men's squad ruled the first edition of the FIBA Polynesia Cup to book themselves a ticket to the 2019 Pacific Games.

Tahiti is looking to complete their unfinished business in the premier basketball event in the Pacific after settling for just a Bronze Medal in the last edition of the quadrennial sports joust.

Standing on its way in the eight-team basketball spectacle is FIBA Melanesia Cup champion Papua New Guinea, reigning Pacific Games and Micronesia Cup titlist Guam together with Tonga, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji and host Samoa.

QUALIFIERS

Tahiti completed a five-game sweep of the "Poly Cup" advance to the Pacific Games.

The Tahitians made short work of Samoa (77-76), Tonga (102-80), Cook Islands (72-43) and American Samoa (123-60) with a whopping 33.8 point winning margin in the Group Phase of the tournament.

However, it encountered heavy resistance from fierce rival Samoa anew in the Final but still came out victorious with a 77-73 escape act for the Polynesia Cup crown and the all-important Pacific Games return ticket.

POSSIBLE KEY PLAYERS

Ariirimarau Meuel, Rehiti Sommers, Michel Audouin

Owing to its dominating Polynesia Cup reign, Tahiti produced two players in the All-Star Five; the sweet-shooting Meuel and the energetic big man Sommers, who will be tasked anew to banner their attack in the prestigious quadrennial title.

Meuel torched opposing teams to the tune of 31.0 points per game while rounding out his effort with 7.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game, taking home the MVP award for his sensational campaign. Sommers tallied all-around stats with 8.2 markers, 6.8 boards and a tournament-leading 3.6 steals per game through five matches in the Polynesia Cup.

Tipped to backstop the two All-Stars is Michel Audouin who also impressed in the Polynesia Cup with numbers of 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.

2015 PACIFIC GAMES PERFORMANCE

As mentioned above, Tahiti finished in the podium of the last Pacific Games with a Bronze Medal.

It posted a 5-2 win-loss slate in group stage highlighted by wins over Guam (76-66), Solomon Islands (76-35), Samoa (87-59), Kiribati (99-61) and American Samoa (78-77).

However, it suffered key losses against Papua New Guinea (70-81) and Fiji (67-75).

In the semi-finals, Guam avenged their Group Phase loss with a menacing 89-57 victory to eliminate Tahiti in the Gold Medal contention.

Fortunately for Tahiti, it still had enough gas left in the tank with a fitting vengeance of its own against Papua New Guinea, 83-73, to secure the Bronze Medal.

OUTLOOK

Tahiti will surely be a team on a mission this Pacific Games.

Based on its last quadrennial conclave outing, Tahiti indeed showed its potential to win it all had it not suffer crucial defeats down the wire.

Add that to its confidence and experience coming off a dominant Polynesia Cup campaign, expect Tahiti to seriously contend for the title even against the defending champion Guam and Melanesia Cup titlist PNG.

Another podium finish is a realistic and satisfying goal but Tahiti's eyes will on the prize, a Gold Medal and a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

For more Pacific Games information visit the official website here.

FIBA