HONIARA (Solomon Islands) - Opening day of the FIBA Melanesian Cup concluded with an unforgettable showdown as hosts Solomon Islands secured a historic 70–67 victory over Fiji - their first-ever win against the Pacific basketball powerhouse.
A packed Friendship Hall erupted as the final buzzer sounded, marking a landmark moment for Solomon Islands basketball and a dramatic finish to the first day of action in Honiara.
Both teams came out firing, trading baskets in a high-paced opening quarter that ended 25-22 in Fiji’s favour. The Solomon Islands responded with determination in the second period, going on a 13–0 run to seize momentum and head into halftime with a 40–35 lead. The second half turned into a fierce back-and-forth battle, with both sides refusing to back down. In a tense final minute, Huatia Tango - who had earlier suffered a scare with a slip - returned to make the decisive layup that gave the hosts a three-point lead with 18 seconds remaining. Despite strong performances from Fiji’s Tyrone McLennan (19 points) and Joshua Fox (16 points), the Solomon Islands held their ground to clinch a historic triumph.
Max Grantham led the way with a game-high 23 points, adding 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Bart Kirby Basia delivered a standout all-around performance with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and an outstanding 8 steals, including a clutch three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. The Solomon Islands’ defensive intensity proved decisive, as the team recorded an impressive 17 steals in total.
"It’s a surreal feeling - we came in as underdogs, but we believed in ourselves that we could do this,” said Grantham after the game, giving credit to Basia for his crucial shot down the stretch. This memorable win not only highlights the team’s progress but also reflects the rapid growth of basketball in the Solomon Islands in recent years.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) controlled the first game of the day from the first whistle, leading against Vanuatu by 11 points after the first quarter. From there, PNG continued to dominate the game, scoring 27 points in the second and third quarters and a final 24 points in the fourth quarter (99-39).
Harold Elavo from PNG led the charge with 16 points and 20% efficiency, with point-scoring support from Enoch Vele (11) and Allan Millard (10). Matthew Kairi was the commander under the basket for PNG, with 9 rebounds and 6 defensive rebounds.
“Everyone stepped up,” Elavo said. “I’m proud of the boys, and we got the win.”
Vanuatu pushed themselves in their debut game for the FIBA Melanesian Cup, with Frank Karae controlling the ball in the mid-court with 3 assists and 3 steals. Ashley Vora was the highest scorer for Vanuatu, scoring 8 points, with Terrence Coleman as a close second with 6 points, and Peter Dementyev with 5 points.
The FIBA Melanesian Cup continues tomorrow with Papua New Guinea taking on Fiji at 11:00 AM (local time) followed by New Caledonia going against Solomon Islands at 4:00 PM (local time).
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