Day 1 - Men's P2 - Fiji 81 defeated New Caledonia 76
The meeting between New Caledonia and Fiji looked to be an evenly matched affair, with both teams equal in height and build to their opposition.
Catching Fiji off guard in their first game of the tournament, New Caledonia took advantage to lead early in the first quarter 31-18.
Ending the first quarter of the match, New Caledonia with 3.43 seconds left, astonished viewers by snatching another 2 points right on the buzzer.
In the second quarter Pita Sowakula (23 points, 8 rebounds) and Koyamainavure (16 points, 8 rebounds) lead a resurgence to be within striking distance of New Caledonia at half time, 36-49.
New Caledonia’s three-point percentage inhibited Fiji leading the match, with 8 long range shots (44 per cent) helping them to a comfortable second half lead.
New Caledonia’s Nicolas Canaldo, in a shrill of speed, assisted his team out with some fast breaks, adding 3 steals and 10 points onto the scoreboard.
Being behind for all of the first half of the match, Fiji took the lead with under three minutes to go, sparking a frenzied shoot-out between the two teams, with spectators all at the edge of their seats.
With the last two minutes in sight and the Fiji Women’s team singing and cheering them on, Fiji gathered their last bit of energy.
Taking advantage of New Caledonia’s exhaustion, Fiji using their last bit of energy scored point after point, with the exhilarating game finally coming to and end with Fiji winning the match (81-76).
With the long and tiresome game of Basketball at its end, Fiji being good sports, shook the players of the New Caledonia team, giving each of the players a little gift as the New Caledonians had done at the start of the match.
By Larissa Spano of The Reporters’ Academy
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