BEFORE flying to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, at least half of the Fiji U15 basketball women’s squad had never boarded a plane in their life.
According to FIBA they were running all over the humid temperature inside the world-class Taurama Indoor Centre representing their country in the first-ever FIBA U15 Oceania Championship.
Speaking to FIBA , team Manager Apenisa Naitani said he is well aware of the magnitude of this opportunity for their team and the future of women’s basketball in their country.
“It’s a first to be a part of a tournament (Under 15) like this for our country. So whatever happens here it just sets precedence to all the other young women in Fiji that they can be part of this,” said Naitini.
“Hopefully by the end of this week we will be eligible for the U16 Asian tournament which is another step from the Oceania event for us to achieve that is paving the way for the younger generation and younger girls in Fiji,” he added.
FIBA adds Fiji had a goal mind and accomplished it after their fourth-place finish which qualifies them to Division B of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship next year.
The one leading the charge for the U15 Fiji team is team captain Moana Liebregts who also represents her country as an open water swimmer and recently represented Fiji in the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championship.
“I have a supportive family with three older brothers who played for the country in basketball. I think the thing that motivates me is to keep the spirit high in both sports and I’m enjoying it,” said Liebregts.
