Sparks do it again

SPARKS continued its winning streak on Saturday when it won the Raiwaqa Basketball Association's inter-lane competition on Saturday with relative ease at Ed's Court.

The national women's champion beat their junior team, Mystics, in the final and collected the $200 prize money which team manager Helen Kamsoo shared to the players. Sparks, which won the Easter basketball championship women's title at the Vodafone Arena two months ago, was in a league of their own.

Kelera Koyamainavure was the hardworking player for Mystics but she was alone against Sparks which has five national reps including her sister Mili.

Coach Peni Ratumaiyale said the five Sparks players forced their way into the national squad for the Pacific Games after winning the Easter championship.

"They had already picked the national squad but when Sparks won the women's title at the Easter national basketball club championship, they had to include the Sparks players on the basis of their performance it," he said.

"The Sparks players were not only included in the training squad, they were named straight in the national squad."

The Sparks players who are in the Fiji team include Mili Koyamainavure, Eileen Puamau, Amalaini Raluvenitoga, Aida Dansey and Leba Korovou.

Live music from the Police band on Saturday added to the atmosphere at the end of regular competition but the rain which seeped on to the court forced organisers to defer the men's final to this Saturday for the safety of the players.

McPacers from Raiwai will meet Spowart in the men's final after they came through tough semi-finals on Saturday.

McPacers had a close 28-26 win over Peniasi Kainamoli's Crossroads in the first semi-final while Jo Kuboutawa and his team from Spowart Lane had to dig deep to pip Bryce by half a basket in the other semi-final.

McPacers sank the first basket and managed to stay in front on the scoreboard as Bugsy and his team applied the pressure, to win through to the final.

Bryce started well and led Spowart for most of the way until Fargo rallied his boys from the third quarter to take pass on the scoreboard and win the thrilling encounter.

Bryce, with brothers Joseph and Timothy Petersen, skipper Nicky Wong, Laitia Musunamasi, Paula, Fena and Moon had taken a good lead in the second quarter but they did not contain Mataika Koyamainavure.

Young Mataika top-scored for Spowart while the 'voice of Raiwaqa', Adi Mere Cinavilakeba, barracked for his son and nephews playing for Spowart from the road side.

The winner of the men's final will win $200 and the Tevita Tuimabualau shield.

RBA president Saula Koroi said the inter-lane final was not the end of the season.

"We will take one week's break and then have the provincial competition where players will break from their clubs and play for their provincial team," he said.

"The provincial competition will be played over two weeks.

"It will be a chance for the players to know their team mates and where they come from.

"Some players of a team will play against each other but after that they will be friends again."

Saula has asked all club managers for forward details of their players and the province they come from so the team lists can be finalised before the provincial games which is scheduled to start on the week of July 3.

After the provincial competition will be the confederacy competition where players will play for their confederacy as in a state of origin - Kubuna, Burebasaga and Tovata.

The confederacy games is the last tournament for the Raiwaqa basketball season.

Saula said they plan to hold an awards night this year and are looking for a sponsor.

Raiwaqa Basketball Association will be sending Timoci Namalo as a referee to the Pacific Games which starts in August in Noumea.

"Jim has improved on his referee knowledge and performance and is committed.

"Every Saturday and competition day he is at the court to officiate and we are rewarding him with a trip to the Pacific Games," said the RBA president.

Namalo's commitment to Raiwaqa basketball has also been rewarded by the association which him become employed as a community police officer.

He was recommended by RBA with Crossroad player Tu Ma.

Namalo plays for the Police men's team when he is not a referee and coaches the Police women's team.

Namalo and Tu Ma are the first unemployed Raiwaqa basketball players to benefit from the community project mooted by Fiji Basketball president Ioane Naivalurua who is the Police Commissioner.

"We recommend Jim and Tu Ma because of their good conduct on and off the court so they will not give a bad name to Raiwaqa and the Commissioner," said Saula.

"The association arranged for Jim's passport.

"This is the start.

"There will be other players who will be recommended by the association to join the police but we will only give the names of those people who contribute to the running of the games at the court and to their community."

Namalo has gained employment through basketball and a chance to support his young daughter Kathleen

The exposure the man with ties to Nadoria will gain from the Pacific Games will lift the standard of basketball in Raiwaqa.

 

Source: The Fiji Times Newspaper

28th June 2011