KOROR (Palau) - The competition was fierce at Stop 5 of the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League – Oceania, Conference 2, with almost every match-up proving to be a close contest. The Tongan teams came out strong once again at stop five, looking to repeat their double victory at the previous Stop, but worthy challengers would not let them have it without a fight.
Women’s Conference 2: Worthy Challengers for the Conference Leaders
Tahiti unfortunately had to forfeit today, and for the remainder of the event due to team injuries.
SAM v NMI – The women from Samoa came out meaning business with Hildegard Matthes and Alexis Ah Mu putting together tidy offensive plays all throughout the game. Alliyah Fernandez dug deep for the Northern Mariana Islands, but it wasn’t enough, Samoa taking the ‘W’ 14-7.
SOL v NMI – The Solomon Islands versus the Northern Mariana Islands would be a test of the Northern Mariana Islanders’ endurance, playing back-to-back games. It was a tight contest through most of the game, the scoreboard reading 7-6 in favour of the Northern Mariana Islands with 3:30 remaining. Despite fighting exhaustion, the Northern Mariana Islands women were able to find a second wind, closing out the game 12-9 in an impressive display of stamina.
FSM v TGA – Tonga were the clear favourites coming into this match-up, and they proved why immediately, creating a 5-0 lead in the first 30 seconds of the game. The Federated States of Micronesia players showed heart, fighting back with perimeter shooting, but they were simply overpowered by the Tongans. The game finished 21-8 with 1:20 remaining on the clock. Lesieli Manupule led the Tongan team from the post, causing all sorts of trouble for her opponents with her dominant play.
SAM v SOL – Samoa stepped up to the plate to challenge Samoa, who sit proud at second in the conference standings. The fourth place Solomons went blow for blow with Samoa, claiming a 16-15 lead with 3:30 remaining. In the end it was Samoa who proved why they sit higher on the standings, with four straight baskets from Hildegard Matthes providing the necessary momentum to lead the team to a 21-17 win.
FINAL: Tonga v. Samoa
Samoa made their first finals appearance against the first-place Tongans at Stop 5. While Tonga were undoubtedly the favourites, the Samoans would not let that stop them from challenging three-time final winners. Both teams came out aggressively on defence, but Tonga’s Makeili Ika stepped up with five early points to give Tonga a 7-4 lead. While Samoa fought hard to try and start a comeback, Tonga had too much size on defence, and the Samoan team were unable to attack their opponents from the perimeter.
Tonga continued to keep on their pressure, with Ika stepping into a more facilitating role, drawing attention to herself passing to her teammates to create easy interior baskets. It proved to be another dominant win for the Tongans, who closed out the game 19-7, comfortably retaining their spot at number one in the conference.
Men’s Conference 2: Narrow Victories for the Solomons
FSM v TAH – The Federated States of Micronesia men were impressive out of the gates, with a couple of nice twos to start. Tahiti found some form reminiscent of how they started this event, including some sharp shooting from Heiarii Salmon, who hit a pair of 2pt shots in response. The Federated States of Micronesia’s Jernimus Barbosa did his best to inspire his team, but it was not enough, Tahiti winning comfortably 21-12.
TGA v NMI – Jonah Palelei from Tonga was hard at work early under the rim, ably assisted by Talanoa Latu in their strong start, and the men from Tonga did not take their foot off the gas. They steamed to another win, the Northern Mariana Islands men scoring only 10 points before the Tongans hit 21.
SOL v TAH – Eager to repeat their victory at Stop 4, the Solomon Islands went on an early run against Tahiti, creating a 5pt lead, but Tahiti fought back to tie up the game 8-8. Both teams then traded baskets, until the scoreboard read 13-13 with 1:30 remaining. A deceptive pump-fake into a drive from the Solomon Islands’ Kenneth Jr. Ramo gave them a 1pt lead, but Matéo Teivanui Varlet answered with a 2pt shot to put Tahiti up 15-14. Kalita Paul Maelasi would not let the Solomons lose though, scoring three straight lay-ups to put his team up 17-15, and two free throws from Bart Kirby Basia iced the game 19-15.
SAM v NMI –Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands showcased another tight battle, both teams evenly matched all the way through the game. The game was tied for a final time at 16-16, but the Northern Mariana Islands quickly pulled away to win the game 21-17. A beautiful pull-up jumpshot from John Jr. Thongaram sealed the victory.
FSM v SOL –The Federated States of Micronesia came into their match-up with the Solomon Islands eager for a win. They spent the first half of the game trying to create a lead, but the Solomons stayed within a couple points the whole way. The Solomon Islands then looked to have the momentum, creating a two-point lead, but a 2pt shot from Burt Kilmete evened the game at 16-16. The Solomon Island team locked in on defense after this shot, holding the Northern Mariana Islanders scoreless for the final 2:30, and closing out the game 21-16.
TGA v SAM – Tonga and Samoa were evenly matched in the final pool game of Stop 5. Both teams were playing impressive defense, switching eagerly and protecting the rim with a high level of intensity. The high octane plays from both teams continued until the final time-out, where Tonga saw themselves with a narrow 11-9 lead. Samoa had opportunities to bring the game back in the final two minutes but missed free throws and interior shots would prove costly. Tonga held on to a 14-11 win.
FINAL: The Solomon Islands v. Tonga
Tonga and the Solomon Islands met in the finals for the second time at Stop 5, in a repeat finals match-up of Stop 3, where the Tongans prevailed 21-15 off a dominated performance from Luke Sinasa. The powerhouse Sinasa once again came out against the Solomons as he has every other game this tournament, using his superior strength and size to bully his opponents inside, both on offense with short hooks and put backs, and on defence with crushing blocks. The Solomon Islands team fought back by commitee, sharing the scoring around, Kalita Maelasi standing out with his energy on defence.
Tonga’s Obadeiah Paea also showed out before the first time-out, generating some sweet baskets using his tidy handle to create space. The Solomon Islands were not fazed by Tonga’s early lead, and by the second time-out they had levelled the score 9-9. The two teams traded buckets, nothing seperating the rivals as they approached the final minute. The score stayed tied 15-15 with 50 seconds on the clock. A tough spin fade from Maelasi put the Solomons up by one, and a missed Tonga layup put the ball into the hands of the Solomon Island’s Bart Basia, who swung the ball to Elijah Otasui for a dagger two-pointer. Talanoa Latu hit a 2pt shot as the clock expired, but it wasn’t enough, as the underdog Solomon Islands took the win over the first-place Tongans, 18-17 the final score.