KOROR (Palau) - Fiji's men's 3x3 team have claimed direct qualification to the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, capping off a thrilling campaign with a dramatic title run at the Pacific Mini Games.
The victory is a major milestone in the island nation's long-term investment in basketball development. With a focus on grassroots growth and high-performance infrastructure, Fiji's rise is part of a broader strategy that's also fueling momentum in the traditional basketball scene, where the men's team is set to return for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers, following their participation in 2018.
The journey to the top was anything but easy. Throughout the six stops of the Youth Nations League, Fiji were in a fierce battle with hosts Palau. After a shaky start with a 4th-place finish in Stop 1, Fiji reached the Final in Stops 2, 3, and 5 - but fell each time to Palau. They finally broke through in Stop 4 with a win over Papua New Guinea, setting up a must-win showdown with Palau in Stop 6. With a favorable seeding at the Final Phase hanging in the balance, Fiji delivered when it mattered most, winning 20-15 to clinch top spot.
The Final Phase at the Pacific Mini Games only added to the drama. Fiji edged Tonga 20-18 in a Semi-Final classic, sealed by Talanoa Latu's clutch go-ahead score in the final seconds. Then came a nerve-jangling Final against the Solomon Islands. After leading most of the way, Fiji saw their advantage erased by a deep three from Elijah Otasui, tying the game at 18 with 15 seconds to go.
But Keenan Hughes stepped up in style, driving through the defense for a left-handed dagger that sealed a 19-18 championship win.
"To be honest, I feel speechless. It's crazy." said Fiji's Ratu Tuivanuavou. "The journey here wasn't easy, I'm just speechless."
"Day one, it was tough, we didn't even make the Final in our conference. We had a good talk and we decided just to put in the work, wake up early, give it our all on the court and keep working, shooting. We worked hard for this, we stayed together as one team."
"Thank you to all the supporters that came out to watch. For the family back at home, thank you so much for supporting."
Solomon Islands took silver, while hosts Palau earned bronze with a 20-18 thriller over Tonga.
For Fiji, the future of basketball looks brighter than ever.
Beyond Fiji's own development, the rise of 3x3 basketball across the Pacific Islands is clearly visible - every team that competed in the Youth Nations League is now ranked inside the Top 80 of the FIBA 3x3 rankings.
FIBA