FIJI MICKAELAR - THE WAY FORWARD!!!!

In their opening game on Monday, the Oceania team didn’t beat Spain, the world’s fifth-ranked team.

But Whippy, whose father Michael is the coach of the national side, said the experience at the tournament is nevertheless a valuable one for the players.

She spoke to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Mickaelar, how long have you been playing with the national team?


Mickaelar Whippy: I’ve been playing for about three years, now.

FIBA: This must be quite an experience for you and your teammates coming to Madrid. Have you ever been to Spain before?

Mickaelar Whippy: (Smiling) No, never.

FIBA: When did you arrive in Spain for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women?


Mickaelar Whippy: We got here last Tuesday, so we have been here six days.

FIBA: How is your Spanish speaking coming along?

Mickaelar Whippy: I speak a little and I can understand a little.

FIBA: Fiji have a big mountain to climb to be able to compete at a tournament like this against some of the best teams in the world. You suffered a heavy loss against Spain, but is this experience nevertheless positive?

Mickaelar Whippy: Oh yes. We’ve never reached this far and we didn’t even know what to expect. For a lot of us, it’s the first time playing at the international level. This is a stepping stone for Fiji basketball. We can only go forward from here.

FIBA: You have some experience playing in America at Long Island University. Tell us about that.


Mickaelar Whippy: I played in college with Valerie Nainima, our number seven. Now we are on the same team. This (Olympic qualifying tournament) is a whole other level from the South Pacific, the big South Pacific Games – that’s the biggest competition we have. This helps us develop our players more.

FIBA: Are there a lot of people who play the sport in Fiji?

Mickaelar Whippy: Not a lot. The main problem is the lack of facilities. It’s very hard to find courts to play on so it’s difficult to keep interest going and to keep developing.

FIBA: The experience of facing Spain, the top team? Can you describe it?


Mickaelar Whippy: We were really nervous at the start. They’re the fifth-ranked team in the world. I don’t even think we’re ranked. We just went into the game trying to focus on what we do best and we went in concentrating on defence. We just told ourselves, `Hey, when is the next time we’ll play one of the top teams in the world?” They’re a very good side. Of course, we’ll all learn from this. I’m sure the girls are excited, and will be especially against Brazil (on Tuesday), who are number four in the world.

FIBA: So overall, you’re happy about the experience?

Mickaelar Whippy: You have to start from somewhere. I guess this is just the beginning of the future growth of the sport for us.”

In their opening game on Monday, the Oceania team didn’t beat Spain, the world’s fifth-ranked team.

But Whippy, whose father Michael is the coach of the national side, said the experience at the tournament is nevertheless a valuable one for the players.

She spoke to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Mickaelar, how long have you been playing with the national team?


Mickaelar Whippy: I’ve been playing for about three years, now.

FIBA: This must be quite an experience for you and your teammates coming to Madrid. Have you ever been to Spain before?

Mickaelar Whippy: (Smiling) No, never.

FIBA: When did you arrive in Spain for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women?


Mickaelar Whippy: We got here last Tuesday, so we have been here six days.

FIBA: How is your Spanish speaking coming along?

Mickaelar Whippy: I speak a little and I can understand a little.

FIBA: Fiji have a big mountain to climb to be able to compete at a tournament like this against some of the best teams in the world. You suffered a heavy loss against Spain, but is this experience nevertheless positive?

Mickaelar Whippy: Oh yes. We’ve never reached this far and we didn’t even know what to expect. For a lot of us, it’s the first time playing at the international level. This is a stepping stone for Fiji basketball. We can only go forward from here.

FIBA: You have some experience playing in America at Long Island University. Tell us about that.


Mickaelar Whippy: I played in college with Valerie Nainima, our number seven. Now we are on the same team. This (Olympic qualifying tournament) is a whole other level from the South Pacific, the big South Pacific Games – that’s the biggest competition we have. This helps us develop our players more.

FIBA: Are there a lot of people who play the sport in Fiji?

Mickaelar Whippy: Not a lot. The main problem is the lack of facilities. It’s very hard to find courts to play on so it’s difficult to keep interest going and to keep developing.

FIBA: The experience of facing Spain, the top team? Can you describe it?


Mickaelar Whippy: We were really nervous at the start. They’re the fifth-ranked team in the world. I don’t even think we’re ranked. We just went into the game trying to focus on what we do best and we went in concentrating on defence. We just told ourselves, `Hey, when is the next time we’ll play one of the top teams in the world?” They’re a very good side. Of course, we’ll all learn from this. I’m sure the girls are excited, and will be especially against Brazil (on Tuesday), who are number four in the world.

FIBA: So overall, you’re happy about the experience?

Mickaelar Whippy: You have to start from somewhere. I guess this is just the beginning of the future growth of the sport for us.”

In their opening game on Monday, the Oceania team didn’t beat Spain, the world’s fifth-ranked team.

But Whippy, whose father Michael is the coach of the national side, said the experience at the tournament is nevertheless a valuable one for the players.

She spoke to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Mickaelar, how long have you been playing with the national team?


Mickaelar Whippy: I’ve been playing for about three years, now.

FIBA: This must be quite an experience for you and your teammates coming to Madrid. Have you ever been to Spain before?

Mickaelar Whippy: (Smiling) No, never.

FIBA: When did you arrive in Spain for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women?


Mickaelar Whippy: We got here last Tuesday, so we have been here six days.

FIBA: How is your Spanish speaking coming along?

Mickaelar Whippy: I speak a little and I can understand a little.

FIBA: Fiji have a big mountain to climb to be able to compete at a tournament like this against some of the best teams in the world. You suffered a heavy loss against Spain, but is this experience nevertheless positive?

Mickaelar Whippy: Oh yes. We’ve never reached this far and we didn’t even know what to expect. For a lot of us, it’s the first time playing at the international level. This is a stepping stone for Fiji basketball. We can only go forward from here.

FIBA: You have some experience playing in America at Long Island University. Tell us about that.


Mickaelar Whippy: I played in college with Valerie Nainima, our number seven. Now we are on the same team. This (Olympic qualifying tournament) is a whole other level from the South Pacific, the big South Pacific Games – that’s the biggest competition we have. This helps us develop our players more.

FIBA: Are there a lot of people who play the sport in Fiji?

Mickaelar Whippy: Not a lot. The main problem is the lack of facilities. It’s very hard to find courts to play on so it’s difficult to keep interest going and to keep developing.

FIBA: The experience of facing Spain, the top team? Can you describe it?


Mickaelar Whippy: We were really nervous at the start. They’re the fifth-ranked team in the world. I don’t even think we’re ranked. We just went into the game trying to focus on what we do best and we went in concentrating on defence. We just told ourselves, `Hey, when is the next time we’ll play one of the top teams in the world?” They’re a very good side. Of course, we’ll all learn from this. I’m sure the girls are excited, and will be especially against Brazil (on Tuesday), who are number four in the world.

FIBA: So overall, you’re happy about the experience?

Mickaelar Whippy: You have to start from somewhere. I guess this is just the beginning of the future growth of the sport for us.”

In their opening game on Monday, the Oceania team didn’t beat Spain, the world’s fifth-ranked team.

But Whippy, whose father Michael is the coach of the national side, said the experience at the tournament is nevertheless a valuable one for the players.

She spoke to FIBA.com.

FIBA: Mickaelar, how long have you been playing with the national team?


Mickaelar Whippy: I’ve been playing for about three years, now.

FIBA: This must be quite an experience for you and your teammates coming to Madrid. Have you ever been to Spain before?

Mickaelar Whippy: (Smiling) No, never.

FIBA: When did you arrive in Spain for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women?


Mickaelar Whippy: We got here last Tuesday, so we have been here six days.

FIBA: How is your Spanish speaking coming along?

Mickaelar Whippy: I speak a little and I can understand a little.

FIBA: Fiji have a big mountain to climb to be able to compete at a tournament like this against some of the best teams in the world. You suffered a heavy loss against Spain, but is this experience nevertheless positive?

Mickaelar Whippy: Oh yes. We’ve never reached this far and we didn’t even know what to expect. For a lot of us, it’s the first time playing at the international level. This is a stepping stone for Fiji basketball. We can only go forward from here.

FIBA: You have some experience playing in America at Long Island University. Tell us about that.


Mickaelar Whippy: I played in college with Valerie Nainima, our number seven. Now we are on the same team. This (Olympic qualifying tournament) is a whole other level from the South Pacific, the big South Pacific Games – that’s the biggest competition we have. This helps us develop our players more.

FIBA: Are there a lot of people who play the sport in Fiji?

Mickaelar Whippy: Not a lot. The main problem is the lack of facilities. It’s very hard to find courts to play on so it’s difficult to keep interest going and to keep developing.

FIBA: The experience of facing Spain, the top team? Can you describe it?


Mickaelar Whippy: We were really nervous at the start. They’re the fifth-ranked team in the world. I don’t even think we’re ranked. We just went into the game trying to focus on what we do best and we went in concentrating on defence. We just told ourselves, `Hey, when is the next time we’ll play one of the top teams in the world?” They’re a very good side. Of course, we’ll all learn from this. I’m sure the girls are excited, and will be especially against Brazil (on Tuesday), who are number four in the world.

FIBA: So overall, you’re happy about the experience?

Mickaelar Whippy: You have to start from somewhere. I guess this is just the beginning of the future growth of the sport for us.”




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