NETBALLERS MOVE OVER TO BASKETBALL

National Women's Squad Coach, Michael Whippy, has enlisted the services of 5 players from Fiji's National Netball Squad.  These players add much needed height to the basketball squad with all players being between 185 and 190cms tall.  Having returned form the Netball World Championship only a couple of months ago, the players are still in good physical condition and have easily fitted into the women's conditioning and strength programs.  In a recent fitness test the netballers actually came out on top of the results.

The players are: Mere Rabuka, Lucy Robanakadavu, Matelita Shaw, Judy Simpson and Matila Waqanidrola.  Another netball player, Joanne Lesianawai (190 cms) left netball last year to join the basketball squad.  While some of these players have played basketball for a few years, some are quite new to the sport but are showing excellent attitude toward learning and are developing quickly. 

Coach Whippy said "these players bring a much needed addition of height and athleticism to our program, and each of them already understands what it takes to be able to perform at the very top levels of sport".  He added "Matila is a defensive specialist and will be able to handle the physical nature of defending players inside the lane.  While Judy is very new to basketball, her ability to transform into a rebounding machine is already evident.  Matilita has so much athleticism that she can almost jump out of the gym, and Mere and Lucy are simply strong players who work as hard as anyone I have coached." 

Long time squad members, Mareta Mani and Loma Maitaika, both 182cms tall maintain the height scene and overseas squad member Aggie Tuilevuka (BYU - Hawaii), another 185cm player, adds more height along with experience.  The younger brigade in the squad of Alisi Tabualevu, Hannah Tuikoro, Brittany Hazelman, Joanne and Ofa Moce  are all over 182 cm, so for the first time in a long time, the Fiji National Women's Squad has some height. 

The future also looks bright in the height department as  5 of the National Youth Women's Squad are all over 182 cms tall.  

 




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