Press Release -The American Samoa basketball association (ASBA) tipped-off its annual Flag Day tournament for 2016 this past Saturday at the St. John Paul II gym in Malaeloa. In preparation for the tournament, ASBA had numerous meetings with its own board members and committee to organize the competition. ASBA President, Milton Taufa’asau, talked about being consistent with these tournaments. Thus, bringing the women division back to a level of competiveness to which has seen a significant increase of female athletes participating. The next step was to re-introduce the 40 and over division. “Instead of calling it 40 & over, we wanted to tab it as the “Masters” division. We want to show our respect to these athletes and recognize them a seasoned veterans” said Taufa’asau. However, there is a catch to the Maters division. The board wanted to utilize the Masters division as a “Wellness program” to help battle obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle through basketball. To play for the Masters division, an athlete must be aged 40 and over OR 300+ pounds. Hence why we did away with the labeling of 40 and over to really help promote a physical lifestyle.

ASBA met with nine men’s team, five women’s team and four Master’s team. All teams have met the deadline and are registered within our ASBA database and they are:

Men’s	Women’s	Master’s
Air Ballers	Easter Generation	Morning Star
ATR	Swoosh	Stripling Warriors
Dawn Breakers	Ol’ Skool	A-Team
Futiga	Island Style	Pinoy Young Once
Liahona
Pago 1
Pago 2
Primetime
Stripling Warriors

 

On Saturday March 12^th, the ASBA 2016 Flag Day tournament tipped-off with four games lined up. After a soft opening ceremony with a few words from American Samoa Basketball Association Vice President, Diehl Langkilde, and an opening prayer from ASBA Secretary-Treasurer, Paulo Pua’auli.

The women division began with the season veterans of Ol’ Skool going up against Island Style, making their ASBA debut, led by coach Kalati Fonoti. The game was a see-saw battle in the first few minutes before the Ol’ Skool took over with the prowess of Titi Manuma and scrappy play of TeeAnn Savusa & Meleisha Telefoni. Ol’ Skool defeated Island Style with Titi Manuma scoring 11 points and TeeAnn Savusa picking up 8 points and 11 rebounds.

The highly anticipated Masters Division makes its debut with one game lined up between the A-Team and Stripling Warriors. A lot of experience on the floor for both teams that was exciting going back and forth. Milton Taufa’asau and the A-Team were gunning the floor in the beginning with their speedy guard in Tavita Lemisio. But the Stripling Warriors began using base line shots and utilize the post with Ben McFall in the middle. With the score all tied up 20 – 20 as the game was winding down, Junior from the A-Team found Lemisio at the top of the 3-point line and Lemisio made an extra pass to Taufa’asau who was open at the corner for a spot up three pointer and made the score 23 – 20. After a timeout by the Stripling Warriors, McFall found an opening and brought the score 23 – 22 and after a loose ball, the Stripling Warriors capitalize with a steal and score making 24 – 23. With no timeouts remaining, the A-Team making a strong push and swinging the ball towards Lemisio who pushed it down Marcus Langkilde and made an extra pass to Wally Taufa’asau but lost control after the Stripling Warrior defender tipped it and went the other way, the A-Team could only foul to stop the clock and sending them to the free throw line. At the end of the game, it was the Stripling Warriors getting the first win 25 – 23.

Then men’s were up next as the Charlie Ma’ae returns back to the Futiga Ghost Town Ballers to go up against the Stripling Warriors. It was a great first that saw Onosa’I from the Stripling Warriors scoring 3 quick baskets, but Ma’ae went on a rampage with his brother Shane in picking up quick scores and momentum. The Ma’ae brothers took full control of the game that never saw the lead change and also locking down Onosa’I. Futiga defeated the Stripling Warriors and getting the first win of the season.

In the final match-up with Dawn Breakers versus ATR. In the first quarter, Charlie Kava put up the first points for the Dawn Breakers. ATR made quick work to score on the other end with Kevin Maukoloa on the quick basket. Dawn Breakers running their offense, but a quick steal from the ASHSAA boys basketball MVP, Esene Alai’a, that had his fellow teammate, Utumoe Va’a, trailing as he sets up an alley-oop that was mishandled by Va’a and saw the Dawn Breakers, Kennedy, score on the other end. However, it was ATR who were too much to handle for the Dawn Breaker team that saw ATR winning 66 – 22.

ASBA is also pleased to announce that three teams from Apia will be competing during the week of Flag Day with a boy’s & girls U18 team and a senior men’s team to compete. Samoa Basketball Association President, Tala Pauga, in Apia made contact with Taufa’asau to participate in the tournament. ASBA has formally invited the Apia teams and is working closely with the ASG Flag Day committee & DYWA Director, Jonathan Fanene, on the logistics of the tournament. “This is a great opportunity not only for our basketball association, but also for our athletes to compete against other players from off-island. We want to further develop our players against players not from here to really gauge their skill levels. We hope that we can further build on this relationship with the Samoa basketball federation and explore other options with other Oceania teams such as Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti and hopefully Hawaii” commented Taufa’asau.

Other quick notes:

Monday March 14^th results

Pago 1 making their debut of the season met the Primetime team. Primetime lead most of the game and defeating the Pago 1 team 53 – 45

The younger Pago 2 team took on an experienced Air Ballers team, but was a see-saw battle that saw Pago 2 putting the Air Ballers on the fence most of the game. But it was the Air Ballers who rode Raynor Whitcombe to get the win. 50 – 40.

Wednesday March 16^th results

Liahona making their debut against the Primetime team saw a one-sided game in the first half but Liahona turned the tables in the second half with a barrage of the 3 pointers. However, it was the experience of newly acquired guard, Miguel Diaz, and the scrappiness of Fuava’a Umu & Stevie that paced Primetime to a victory over Liahona.

In the final game, Air Ballers were matched up against the Stripling Warriors that saw the Onosa’I going up against his former teammates. The game was exciting from start to finish with Onosa’I from Stripling Warriors bringing his team from behind most of the game to keep it close, but it was the Air Ballers big man Raynor Whitcombe who rallied the troops for a 60 – 50 victory over the Stripling Warriors. Whitcombe finished with a team high 24 points while his counterpart Onosa’I ended his night with 23 points.

Saturday March 19^th will be at the St. John Paul II gym and will feature:

Swoosh vs Easter Generation (Women’s)

Filipino All Stars vs Morning Star (Master’s)

Pago 1 vs Dawn Breakers (Men’s)

Pago 2 vs Futiga (Men’s)

Liahona vs ATR (Men’s)

ASBA invites the public to come out and enjoy some basketball with family and friends and support our athletes in the Flag Day tournament.