KOROR (Palau) - Stop 2 of the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League – Oceania, Conference 2 saw just as much action as Stop 1, with tense grind out battles in the women’s conference, and explosive shoot outs in the men’s. The Tahiti women’s team took out their first win of the competition, the Northern Mariana Islands put on impressive performances in both the men’s and the women’s, and a new challenger arises to take Tahiti’s crown in the men’s.
Women's Conference 2: Grind Out Wins
Tahiti came out on day two desperate for a win after two losses on day one, and they did just that against the Federated States of Micronesia, taking out the game 19-15.
In a surprisingly physical match, the Northern Mariana Islands stood up to the might of Samoa. The scores were tied with a minute remaining on the clock, and with both teams playing desperate defense, the game went to overtime. The defensive pressure of the Micronesian Queens was elite, and a huge two-pointer from Alliyah Fernandez saw the Northern Mariana Islands seal the win 19-17.
After winning by one point in their previous encounter on day one, the Tonga versus Tahiti clashed delivered the exact same result with Tonga winning 10-9.
The Northern Mariana Islands kept on the grind to hold on to a one-point win over Solomon Islands, 15-14 the final score. The endurance of the Northern Mariana Islands team was sure to be tested in the finals.
Tonga wrapped up proceedings against the Federated States of Micronesia with two-and-a-half-minutes to spare, a 21-11 win sending them to their second consecutive conference final.
Samoa took on the Solomon Islands for the final women’s match up of the day. Samoa left nothing to chance, finishing the game off 21-13 with over a minute remaining on the clock.
Women's Final: Tonga Continue Their Dominance
The Northern Mariana Islands took on the Tongan powerhouse team at Stop 2. Despite a strong effort from the Northern Mariana Islands’ Alliyah Fernandez, who scored 10 points, the Tongans put together a convincing team display that saw them take out their second consecutive win. Out-sized and out-played, the women from NMI showed heart going down 12 -20. Two wins at two Stops places the Tongan Women’s team at first overall in the conference, with the Northern Mariana Islands strong Stop 2 display putting them at second.
Men's Conference 2: First to 21
Tahiti continued their undefeated run, scoring 21 points to cut regulation time short in their first match of the day against the Federated States of Micronesia. A cool 21 –13 win.
While the size difference seemed impossible, the Northern Mariana Islands jumped out of the box to lead Tonga early on, but Tonga muscled their way back to take the lead mid-way through the match. It was the men from the Northern Mariana Islands who held their nerve to take the win, Airson Atan icing the game with a two-point dagger. With 32 seconds left on the clock, the final score was 21-19.
Meeting for the second time at this event, the men from Tahiti and the Solomon Islands went to work and put on a show. Needing just one point with 60 seconds to go, the Solomon Islands sealed the deal with a classy tip from Kalita Maelasi to win 21-16 in a defensive masterclass.
Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands went blow for blow in a tough contest where you just wanted both teams to win. The surprise packet from the Northern Mariana Islands prevailed 21-18.
The Federated States of Micronesia and the Solomon Islands put on a beautiful display of team basketball, with all eight players contributing to the scoring. The Federated States of Micronesia wanted the win just a little more and edged out the victory 21-18.
Tonga put on a more dominant display to round out the pool matches, with a 21-13 win over Samoa. In the most impressive display of ‘winning by committee’ of the tournament so far, all four Tongan players scored five or more points.
Men's Final: Star Performance leads Commanding Solomon Islands Victory
The finals saw the Solomon Islands take on the Northern Mariana Islands. The Solomon Islands pushed to an early lead with the Northern Mariana Islands clawing their way back to within three points heading into the business end of the match. In the end, a dominant 12-point game from Bart Kirby Basia saw the Solomon Islands take a 21-13 victory. These strong Stop 2 performances from the Solomon Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands are enough to place them into second and third respectfully overall in the Oceania Conference 2, just behind Tahiti who stay in first.