BLK Fiji women's basketball team started their FIBA Oceania Basketball Championship on a winning note at the Vodafone Arena in Suva last night.

Inspired by captain Tiayana Kainamoli, Fiji knocked Samoa out 65-41 in their opening pool game.

And coach, Dale Wise Sauqaqa was overwhelmed with the outcome of the result.

She said she was proud with the way her debutant players performed especially overcoming the nerves.

While Kainamoli fell out in the second spell, it was nippy Kuini Ratumaiyale that took over Kainamoli's role in orchestrating play.

"Ratumaiyale was calling out the shots and was very confident with her decision making in the absence of Kainamoli.

"We are very happy with the outcome of the game," Sauqaqa said.

"It went as how we anticipated it to be. We were very happy with the girls who made their debut, we saw a lot of encouraging things that happened on court, there were a lot of nerves especially from our debutants but in the end they stepped up and we're very proud of them today."

Sauqaqa credited the players that came off the bench.

She said all players made their debut for Fiji.

"Players such as Bitila Tawake, Fiji Pearls netball rep Vilisi Tavui, Ella Koroi, Tavenisa Soroinakula and Catherine Burese all featured well for Fiji.

"We had our captain running out well, she played a really good game in the first half.

"She understood that she had to lead out well but it was unfortunate that she fell out in the second half.

"And we're happy that it gave Ratumaiyale an opportunity. She stepped up and did the job well and with that we're glad with how the game was played with our captain on the bench."

She said Samoa provided good competition as expected.

"They (Samoa) were solid in the midfield but we got depth with our bench and they came off to settle the game for us in the end."

The national women's U19 side plays Solomon Islands at 4pm today.

Meanwhile, in other women's results, New Zealand thumped Solomon Islands 108-21, Australia walloped American Samoa113-8 and Papua New Guinea lost 46-90 to Guam.

 

<http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=287928>
Emoni Narawa
Tuesday, December 02, 2014