National Team Selected

Basketball Fiji has announced the final 30 member team to the inaugural FIBA U15 Oceania Basketball Championships in Papua New Guinea from 3rd Dec – 8th December 2018.

The national team is made up of 15 males and 15 females with 4 management staff.

Girls Head Coach- Seini Samson commented at the selection “we are confident in the selection of the team. Having named the final team this early gives us enough time to prepare for the tournament in December”

“Two of our youngest players are in primary school but on the court they have proven themselves worthy to represent Fiji in this year’s tournament,” she added

William Peters the head coach for boys’ team said it was a difficult decision selecting the final team . "The boys had continuously improved every week during training sessions, with each one determined to make the final team. At the end we had to select the strongest 12 players to travel"

“Our Aim is to finish at top 4 at the tournament on the understanding that every participating country will be bringing their best teams so competition will be tough and we will have to be at our best” Peters added.

Chief Operations Officer Laisiasa Puamau said there has been a lot of effort and resources put together in our efforts to compete in the inaugural regional U15 qualifiers. We would like to thank the hardworking team manages and coaches, parents, Basketball Fiji executives for the decision to introduce a National U15 Program and Fiji National Sports Commission for their commitment to the teams airfares to Papua New Guinea.

The decision to have an U15 tournament is welcomed by Basketball Fiji Federation, as it will allow our younger players to be involved in the game at a very early age.

Coaching and management staff began preparations from April this year holding trials in both central and western division with 35 boys and 25 girls selected to be part of the training squad for 5 months.

The FIBA U15 Oceania tournament is a regional qualifier to the FIBA U16 Asia Championships in 2019.

Being the inaugural tournament, this also allows a level playing field for all Oceania Countries which includes Australia, New Zealand, Guam, PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga with our aim to bring that gold medal home.

In the last 6 years Fiji was host to two FIBA Youth Tournaments in 2014 & 2016.

Fiji U15 Girls – Estelle Kainamoli, Moana Liebregts, Sofaia Kacisolomone, Atelaite Vesikula, Sara Fina Manulevu, Ranadi Koroi, Elenoa Kuboutawa, Ilisapeci Doladei, Eseta Clair Navunisaravi, Erica Bulmel, Joadhan Taukave, Lily Waqa Alternate : Jayne Cerelala, Ro Kelera Waqarawai, Maria Naloli

Fiji U15 Boys - Hayden Carr, Simon Colala, Shravan Dayal, Hendrix Harm, Keenan Hughes, Ros Koroi, Tui Lesuma, Nalani May, Tomasi Ravai, Tevita Vuiyanuca, Joeli Ravai Lorima Mucunabitu Alternate: Eashan Singh, George Peters, Mareko Kunau