Action packed week await in Mauritius for the IOIG

PHOENIX (Mauritius) – The Indian Ocean Islands Games basketball tournament tips off on Saturday in Phoenix, Mauritius. As an opener for an action packed week, the hosts Mauritius will face Comoros, both on the men’s and women’s side.

Both sides have been drawn in Group B. The men’s national team will feature alongside Comoros and Mayotte while the women’s side will battle for the top spot against Comoros and Madagascar.

Tough games await the locals, but they have been prepared for their Games. "We need to focus on our first game before thinking about the next," said veteran Thierry Julie, who will feature for the fifth time at the IOIG in some days.

Women’s national team captain, Loreen Davy, goes the same way, arguing that things will not be easy for her side as they will have to battle regional powerhouse, Madagascar. "They are the tournament favorites and they deserve massive respect. But we are confident about our chances and would like to upset them a bit."

However, the highlight of the men’s group phase might be the July 24^th clash, between Madagascar and Reunion Island, the two regional superpowers in Group A. This will be a remake of the 2015 finals, where the French island stunned their opponents.

And things will get heated, as Madagascar has called in their FIBA Africa 3X3 bronze medalists Fabrice Constant Mandimbison and Elly Randriamampionona. These two will receive support from local superstar Livio Ratianarivo and foreign-based player Rija Lahontan.

Another team to watch during the tournament would be Seychelles. Led by foreign-based Abdel Sylla, the 2011 Finals MVP, the players from the archipelago will want to make a loud statement in Mauritius, as they are bidding their way up in Africa.

On the women’s side, Reunion Island (Group A) and Madgascar (Group B) emerge as tournament favorites, while Comoros may be the itch that upsets their opponents.

The top two teams of each group will advance to the Semi-Final stage, due on July 26^th, while the Finals are set the next day.

FIBA