HONIARA (Solomon Islands) - Papua New Guinea held their nerve in the closing minutes to defeat Fiji 68-61, reclaiming the FIBA Melanesian Cup title and securing their second championship after first winning the crown in 2017.
Both sides traded momentum throughout an intense contest, with each team leading by as much as seven points at different stages of the game. The lead swung back and forth until the final minutes, when Papua New Guinea showed composure from the free-throw line to close out the win.
With six minutes to play, Harold Elavo put Papua New Guinea ahead 57-54, before Fiji immediately answered through a three-pointer from Filimone Waqabaca, tying the game heading into the final five minutes.
A few possessions later, Purari Muri split a pair of free throws to give PNG a one-point edge, but Fiji responded quickly. Tyrone McLennan scored in transition, followed by a layup from Joshua Motufaga - assisted by McLennan - to push Fiji ahead 61-58 with just under three minutes remaining.
That, however, would be Fiji’s final basket. Papua New Guinea regained control with a quick bucket from Elavo, and from there, Muri took over - calmly sinking eight consecutive free throws to seal the victory and the championship.
Papua New Guinea were led by Moses Apiko, who finished with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Purari Muri added 20 points and 4 rebounds, hitting 11 of 12 free throws to deliver in crunch time. Harold Elavo also impressed with 15 points and 11 rebounds, notching a double-double in the win.
For Fiji, Tyrone McLennan paced the team with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Joshua Fox posted another strong all-around outing with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Filimone Waqabaca also chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds in the losing effort.
Both Papua New Guinea and Fiji had already secured qualification for the Pacific Games 2027 in Tahiti, which serves as a pathway event for the FIBA Asia Cup 2033 Pre-Qualifiers.
Papua New Guinea’s triumph marks a return to the top of Melanesian basketball. Despite the loss, Fiji’s runner-up finish is their best yet at the Melanesian Cup and highlights their continued rise as they look ahead to their next opportunity on the continental stage.
FIBA