PAPUA NEW GUINEA (FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup 2017) - The host nation Papua New Guinea has capped off their undefeated run by overcoming New Caledonia 81-61 to keep the first-ever FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup in Papua New Guinea. After an undefeated group phase, Papua New Guinea managed to hold off the tough New Caledonia side and be crowned champions.

Leahy Martineng-Lakah continued his solid play with 17 crucial points in the biggest game of the event.

New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea have both earned qualification through to the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa. They will be joined by third-placed Fiji after their win against the Solomon Islands earlier today.

This victory makes it a clean sweep for Papua New Guinea as the Women's side defeated Fiji just hours ago to keep the Women's Melanesia Cup at home in PNG.

Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia will now wait to see who will join them in the 2019 Pacific Games from the Polynesian and Micronesia regions.

Congratulations to the first ever FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup Champions Papua New Guinea.

FIBA