Baptism of Fire of our hoopsters

 

By Francis Pituvaka

SOLOMON ISLANDS Under 19 Men’s and Women’s teams had their ‘baptism of fire’ in their opening matches of the 2014 FIBA Oceania U19 Championship in Suva Fiji.


Both teams withered under the might of their two opponents, however there are some positives taken out the matches.


The boys were up against Guam and although they put in their best shot were unable to contain their opponents who got the upper hand in the match. In the end they could only manage to secure 13 points as opposed to Guam’s 88 points.


Like the boys, the girl could do little to stop the rampaging New Zealand Women’s hoopsters who snatched up 108 points as opposed to their 21 points.


Commenting on the two teams’ performances in the Lifhaus page Aunama Jnr praised their effort saying that this is good for the two teams to gain experience and he wished them well in their next games.


Another commentator said the enthusiasm to participate is commended knowing that basketball at home was dormant for sometime.


Nicholas Wa'aherosiramakoa who also commented said: “being through that state of basketball development in SI, back in 1996 or 95, we had this game against a visiting New Caledonia youth team, the score line was quite the same.


“After all this years I can confirm that it’s the way we develop our young players that is really below standards, to make it worse it’s the support and availability of facilities that pushes us far from the rest.”


He however praised the commitment that few people put together to prepare the team which he described as good,


“Our teams usually receive less support from the authority and public. It wasn't a bad move either, we can still compete if we've done our preparations like the other top teams did....cheers guys and heads up, keep your heads up and high,” Wa'aherosiramakoa said.


Meanwhile, the Lifhaus Solomons administrator said both coaches understood the challenges ahead and did not have any unrealistic expectations.


“The general consensus as Lifhaus Solomons found out was that both coaches understood the challenges ahead and did not have any unrealistic expectations.


“What is evident though, and the challenge for all of us, is to use this experience to gauge where we are now and then work towards improving the state of basketball in the country.


“That can only come to fruition if we all worked together. So those that can play, please continue playing and teaching others the games. Those that have connections in higher places, use them to get support for the sport,” the Lifhaus Solomons administrator said.


He called on the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation to provide equal opportunities for coaches, administrators and players to go out of Honiara to see the "real" world for themselves.


Lihaus Solomon also commended those who willingly supported the team financially..


“A lot of patience is required but if we do it right, we will achieve the required results. We must not find excuses, we must only find solutions. We were thrashed but we will keep our head up and continue the fight we have started.”

 

Picture courtesy of Basketball Fiji_




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