PAPEETE (Tahiti) - Hosts Tahiti staged a remarkable comeback against Samoa to claim a thrilling 92-86 victory on Day two of the FIBA Polynesian Cup 2026, while Tonga continued their strong campaign with a convincing 87-64 win over the Cook Islands.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, Tahiti showed resilience and determination to overturn a 16-point deficit and secure their second victory of the tournament.
Samoa came out firing, led by an outstanding performance from Samuta Avea, who finished with a game-high 40 points and 11 rebounds. A dominant opening quarter saw Samoa establish a 31-19 lead, putting the hosts under pressure early - but Tahiti refused to back down.
Led by Rahiti Tinirauarii, who delivered an impressive double-double of 29 points and 10 rebounds, the hosts gradually fought their way back into contention. Tahiti outscored Samoa 29-19 in the second quarter before adding another 25 points in the third to take a narrow lead heading into the final period.
With the game going down to the wire, Hiro Bonnet's crucial basket with just over three minutes remaining put Tahiti ahead for good. Strong defensive efforts and composure in the closing minutes ultimately sealed the six-point victory.
Heiarii Keoni Naea Salmon, who contributed 20 points and six rebounds, credited the team's defensive mindset for the comeback.
"Towards the end, we had just one rule: play good defence, and the offence will naturally follow."
Despite his individual performance, Salmon emphasised that the team's success remains his priority. "I don't really care about the stats. All I want is to win."
Playing on home soil adds extra motivation for the Tahitian side, with Salmon making their ambitions for the remainder of the tournament clear.
"We're playing at home, and we want to win gold."
Ariirimarau Meuel also made a valuable contribution, while his brother, Ariihau Meuel added 10 rebounds and five assists to help Tahiti overcome a determined Samoan side.
Tonga made their mark in the other men’s match of the day, powering past the Cook Islands with a convincing performance. The Tongans maintained their strong form with an 87-64 victory over the Cook Islands, taking control early and never looking back.
After a competitive opening few minutes, Tonga found their rhythm with a powerful first-quarter run, establishing a double-digit advantage that the Cook Islands were unable to overcome.
Tonga’s depth was on display throughout the contest, with Riley Manu and Marcus Alipate setting the tone alongside strong contributions from Jimitose Sipeli and Talanoa Latu.
For the Cook Islands, Romani Keith-Peraua delivered an impressive individual performance, finishing with a game-high 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Alipate, who has represented Tonga at every FIBA Polynesian Cup since the competition began in 2018, credited the team's unity for their performance.
I think for us it was just playing together, sticking to what we said we were going to do. We're a tight-knit team, and our goal is to come out every game and play the best that we can.
For the experienced guard, representing Tonga remains about more than results on the court.
"It's the love for the country and the Kingdom, being able to represent my family and my country, and spending time developing these young guys."
Having witnessed the competition's evolution since 2018, Alipate also reflected on the growing strength of basketball across the Pacific.
"There's been a lot of growth in the region, and I'm just excited to see what happens for Pacific basketball."
With another strong performance behind them, Tonga will look to continue building momentum as the tournament progresses, while Tahiti's dramatic comeback has further strengthened the hosts' pursuit of gold on home soil.
Men's teams from the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti (host) have already qualified for the Pacific Games 2027, with the top two placed teams at the FIBA Polynesian Cup 2026 to also secure their spot.
The 2026 editions of the FIBA Polynesian Cup and FIBA Women's Polynesian Cup has tipped off in Toahotu and will conclude with finals games on October 24.