APIA (Samoa) - Samoa avoided a heartbreak at home to claim a spot in the Semi-Finals along with Guam who defeated Cook Islands. Australia also made a comeback of their own to down rivals New Zealand.
Guam opened Day 1 of the U17 Oceania Cup with a statement performance, overpowering the Cook Islands 102–69 in a fast-paced, physical matchup that showcased their depth, pace, and teamwork.
Guam controlled the game from the opening minutes and never looked back, leading for nearly the entire game, building their advantage steadily across all four quarters. Their relentless pressure and efficiency inside the paint (50 points) proved too much as six players finished with 8 points or more - while all players got on the score board.
The biggest punch came early in the third quarter, where Guam's scoring runs repeatedly stretched the margin. Their balanced scoring and tempo kept Cook Islands on the back foot despite strong individual efforts from Cody Wicks (19 points) and Cohen Russell (16 points).
Bless Aisek put on a dazzling performance with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, showing poise and maturity well beyond his age. His scoring bursts - including three made three-pointers - energized the Guam bench and helped break the game open in the second half.
After the game, Aisek credited both preparation and team chemistry:
"It was great, we played great team basketball, got my teammates involved."
He also revealed the foundation behind Guam’s sharp execution:
"The work's been heavy. We worked a lot at home. We practiced seven months prior to this tournament. I'm glad it worked."
Aisek spoke proudly about representing Guam:
"It means a lot. I'm glad I got to play for my island and represent."
The young guard also reflected on the motivation he drew from watching Guam’s senior national team battle the Philippines in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers:
"It's beautiful. Honestly, it inspires me to see the older guys play for Team Guam. That means a lot."
And, of course, he addressed his now-signature three-point celebration:
"When I hit a 3, it just means now it's time to focus."
Samoa are through to the Semi-Finals, but only after surviving a dramatic late comeback from Fiji in one of the most intense games of the tournament so far to win, 68-63.
"The game was intense. The atmosphere, the crowd, the intensity - it was crazy. We didn't expect this game to be that hard, but they gave us a run for their money," said Kingston Tutani, who scored 24 points to lead Samoa.
Samoa controlled much of the first half and led by as many as 19 points, with Tutani and Micah Watson carrying the offensive load. But Fiji refused to back down. Their pressure defense and relentless attacking style flipped the game in the second half, and they eventually took a 63–62 lead in the final minute.
With the crowd roaring, Samoa delivered a poised and disciplined response, closing the game on a 6–0 run, all at the free-throw line. Micah Watson hit four clutch free throws, while Brandon Gray knocked down the final two to secure the victory and send Samoa into the Semi-Finals.
Watson finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Tutani powered Samoa in a standout performance. Fiji were led by Ratu Gosho Vishanin (14 points) and Ilai Houng Lee (9 points, 9 rebounds) as they came agonizingly close to completing a remarkable upset.
Tutani led the team in scoring, but he quickly acknowledged how much of a team effort it was. About which player he though was the most impressive in this game, he said:
"Micah Watson, Brandon, Lamaiah - you know what? Everyone! Everyone on my team!"
"I was feeling energetic," he also added..
"I was always thinking in my head who I am representing and what I'm here for."
The win was a significant one as it came after a tough loss to New Zealand yesterday.
"All of us together, we just huddled up. We went through pros and cons, how we can do better."
Fiji delivered a spirited, fearless comeback, but Samoa found composure in the final minute to restore control and advance to the next stage. With Tutani's scoring punch and Watson's clutch free throws, Samoa now head into the Semi-Finals with renewed confidence and momentum.
Australia delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks of the tournament so far, erasing a 19-point deficit to defeat New Zealand 93–87 in a classic that swung wildly before the final buzzer.
New Zealand came out firing, imposing their physicality early and surging ahead behind Hoani Ifopo-Togia’s relentless attacking, as he scored 23 points. The Junior Tall Blacks held a commanding lead midway through the second quarter and were in control for the majority of the game.
But Australia refused to fold.
After halftime, the momentum began to turn as the the Crocs defensive pressure tightened. The gap shrank, and with less than five minutes left, Australia finally grabbed their first lead of the entire game - and never let it go.
Australia closed the match with poise, execution, and trust - the very theme their star emphasized afterward.
"It was up and down, the game was physical," said Luke Paul who dropped 18 points. "There was a lot that influenced the game, but the big thing was us staying together.
"We came out of halftime and said: let's do this together."
"Everyone on our team can play 1–12 - trust was the biggest thing for us."
No one could have better emphasized that than Paul who dished out 15 assists in the game. Paul continued to gushed over how much he's enjoyed playing with this team, especially with Jai Fa'ale who he also lives with back in Canberra.
"I've lived with him for half a year - that’s my dog," said Paul of Fa'ale, who scored plenty of his game-high 29 points off Paul's assists. "He's one hell of a guy to play with. He's always got your back through tough and good times. I love playing with him and get to do it every day back home."
Playing with and against the likes of Fa'ale and others back in Australia has helped them prepare not only for this competition - but the many more competitions ahead.
"Going to CoE has helped me a lot - competing against the best guys in Australia every day. Jai, Hammo [William Hamilton], all of them. You can only get better doing that."
The FIBA U17 Oceania Cup continues tomorrow with three big matchups. Australia meets Guam in the first Semi-Final at 5:30 PM (local time), followed by New Zealand taking on hosts Samoa at 7:30 PM (local time) as the race to the Final reaches full intensity. Cook Islands face Fiji in the 5–6 Classification Game at 9 AM (local time).
The FIBA U17 Oceania Cup and FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup is being hosted by the Samoa National Basketball Association in Apia from December 8 to 13. The event is supported by the Government of Samoa under the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, with the two teams qualifying for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup and FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
All games are livestreamed via the FIBA YouTube Channel in collaboration with BluWave Media.
FIBA