HONIARA (Solomon Islands) - The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2025, as Papua New Guinea and Fiji go head-to-head for the tital on Saturday, October 18 at 6:30 PM (GMT+11) inside the Friendship Hall in Honiara.
The teams will be leaving it all out on the floor for the FIBA Melanesian Cup with both finalists having now qualified for the Pacific Games 2027 in Tahiti. The Pacific Games also serve as a step towards playing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2033 Pre-Qualifiers.
A Final built on pride and persistence
Both teams have been challenged through the week of basketball in Honiara, and now only one will emerge as the Melanesian champion.
For Papua New Guinea (4-0), this is familiar territory. The inaugural 2017 champions and 2022 runners-up have marched back to the Final undefeated, powered by the leadership of Apia Muri and Moses Apiko and the energy of rising stars such as Harold Elavo. Their campaign has blended composure and chemistry - winning close games when it mattered most, including a dramatic 77–74 victory over New Caledonia earlier in the week.
PNG’s consistency has been built on team defense and interior scoring, averaging nearly 40 points in the paint per game, while capitalizing on opponent mistakes with 30 points off turnovers. Their balance and experience have been key, with veterans and newcomers alike stepping up across the board.
As Muri put it after their semifinal-clinching win:
"It’s unreal playing alongside family and with my dad coaching. We don’t want to let this go - we want to win for our country."
Their biggest edge going into this final game is that they had already defeated their opponents in the Group Phase.
Fiji finding their form
On the other side, Fiji (2-2) are peaking at just the right moment. After a rocky start to the group stage that included early losses to Solomon Islands and PNG, Coach Earl Hughes’ squad rediscovered their rhythm in the latter half of the tournament.
Led by the explosive Tyrone McLennan - who scored a tournament-high 44 points earlier in the week - and anchored by Joshua Fox, Fiji showed their trademark resilience in a gritty 63–53 victory over New Caledonia to clinch a spot in the Final.
Fox was immense once again, recording a tournament-high 20 rebounds and controlling the glass to give Fiji second-chance opportunities. Hughes praised his team’s composure, saying earlier this week that this Melanesia Cup is part of Fiji's "next step" toward sustainable regional and continental success.
"We look to compete very well and put ourselves in a position to win," Hughes said. "This is the most experienced team we’ve ever had, and that leadership is what drives us."
Key matchups and stats
Statistically, the Final promises to be a clash of contrasting strengths.
Papua New Guinea thrive on pace and disruption, averaging 16.8 steals per game, turning defense into fast-break opportunities.
Fiji, meanwhile, hold the edge in rebounding (50.0 per game) and second-chance points (16.3), relying on Fox’s dominance inside.
PNG lead the tournament in assists (21.5) and points per game (79.3), while Fiji’s balanced scoring and depth off the bench (20.3 points per game) could prove crucial in the high-stakes final.
Expect fireworks in transition, bruising battles in the paint, and moments of brilliance from both veterans and rising stars.
History on the line
Papua New Guinea will be looking to reclaim gold for the first time since 2017 and avenge their runner-up finish in 2022. For Fiji, this is a chance to capture their first-ever Melanesian Cup title - a fitting milestone for a team that has been pushing toward regional dominance since their Pacific Games triumph.
Whichever team lifts the trophy on Saturday, the 2025 Final will mark another milestone in the growth of basketball across the Pacific.
The FIBA Melanesian Cup is being hosted by the Solomon Islands Basketball Federations in Honiara from October 13 to 18. The event is supported by the National Sports Council, with the two teams qualifying for the Pacific Games 2027 in Tahiti. All games are livestreamed via the FIBA YouTube Channel courtesy of TTV Solomons Islands.
FIBA