Tahiti relying on experience for FIBA U18 Oceania Championships 2016
PAPEETE (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships for Men and Women 2016) - Sixteen (16) of the nineteen (19) players set to represent Tahiti in December played in the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships.
PAPEETE (FIBA U18 Oceania Championships for Men and Women 2016) - Sixteen (16) of the nineteen (19) players set to represent Tahiti in December played in the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships.
This experience will serve Tahiti well when coming up against powerhouses Australia and New Zealand.
Headlining the roster for the Men are 2014 standouts Hitirai Voirin (9.3 points, 4.5 rebounds per game) and Ariihau Jean-Ernest (9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds per game).
| Ariihau Jean-Ernest | Maruake Lacour | Sayfhalla Rezzoud | Keanu Richmond |
| Maearii Tanepau | Arutahi Teore | Moana Tepa | Hitirai Voirin |
Vorini and Jean-Ernest will be aiming to lead Tahiti to repeat or better their third place finished at the 2015 FIBA U16 Oceania Championships in New Zealand.
The Tahiti Women’s team boasts even more experience than the Men, with eight (8) members of the squad having played in New Zealand in 2015 and three (3) of whom played in the 2014 FIBA U18 Women Oceania Championships.
It’s tough to call a 17 year-old a veteran but with the last two Oceania region FIBA World Qualifying events under her belt, Vainui Tehoiri is just that. Tehoiri will need to continue her solid rebounding (7.2 per game) and increase her scoring (10.8 points per game) averages from 2014 with Tahiti’s first and third leading scorers during the event absent from this year’s roster.
| Heiura Vaiho | Yee Gniok Tai Apeang | Teahiti Auona | Ambre Caddeo |
| Hinarautea Doom | Joy Garel Laurin | Vainui Tehoiri | Hinearii Teriierooiterai |
| Leilanie Teua | Temana Teururai | Hinarai Thunot |
This determined Tahiti team will be out for revenge after falling to Guam 54-48 in the bronze medal game in 2014.
FIBA