Jasper Williams High School aim to learn and improve their skills at the Tuckers Ice Cream Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship. The three-day tournament started yesterday at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Coach Lyndal Ligabalavu said they had to pay their own way to Suva.

“We struggled to come here because we don’t have that support and we almost did not make it,” Ligabalavu said. “We didn’t raise any funds, everyone paid for their own way here and its difficult travelling from the West and having to stay for a few days is quite expensive. “The girls really have that passion to play the sport and learn the game because this is only the second year that Jasper has played basketball since taking part for the first time last year.”

Ligabalavu said though the girls were new to the sport, their main focus is to take something back from the tournament.

“We’re not very sure or confident about how we will go this year but we are just coming here to explore what we can and learn from the very experienced teams in Suva,” she said. “I am encouraging students to get involved because this sport can take you a long way. “We’ve got talent in our young players in every school and this is one sport that teaches them to develop their skills. But we just need get behind our athletes and support them.”

Source: The Fiji Sun Newspaper on 25 August 2015