AS a tenacious basketballer on the floor, Dale Wise was naturally quick on the feet.

Eyes on the hoop, footwork and reach were skills mastered over years of competitive playing.

In August she attempted a rebound at the sport after a three-year break and is now part of the squad preparing for next years South Pacific Games.

Last Saturday however, in Vitogo, Lautoka, the Raiwaqa-raised lass demonstrated her flair for the game when she literally boxed out and slam dunked her way into another kind of ring.

In a moving and emotional ceremony, Dale wed military officer Lieutenant Tomasi Sauqaqa Jnr, the son of former heavyweight boxing champion the late Luke Sauqaqa.

The couple, who met in 2006 during officer cadet training, have a one-year-3 month-old son, Junior.

Her only regret was that her mum Serah, who succumbed to cancer two years ago, was not present.

But I have a lot to live for, she said.

I am blessed that I have such a wonderful family.

My mum was a great supporter and as soon as she discovered I was athletic, she took me to try out all kinds of sports.

I started out with track and then swimming and netball.

But then I got stuck with basketball because my mums work at the gym and stadium meant I was always surrounded by sports people, she said.

The fact that Raiwaqa had a court so close to home also influenced my choice. Once I was selected, the opportunity and excitement of travel made me commit to the sport.

Dales career in basketball began in 1997 as a 16-year-old who was still in high school. She was in the only winning under 22 team that defeated Australia in the 2002 Oceania championship.

And that winning streak was repeated in the 2005 SPG when Fiji won gold after a very very long time.

She captained the Fiji team to the Oceania Games in Tonga and co-captained throughout the years until she pulled out after the 2007 SPG.

I tried out for the squad because I believe I still have a lot to offer. I am still fast and need to lose some weight, but I believe I have a lot of experience to share with the young squad, whether I make the team or not, said Dale.

She said younger sister, Britanny Hazelman, is also in the squad.

Not to be outdone, husband Tomasi , piped up that he himself has personal achievements to his name.

I was deputy head boy of Natabua during my time. Oh, and I took up boxing as a hobby while at school, he laughed.

He said he now had great expectations of his son who carries the genes of two well-known personalities.

The lieutenant is attached with the armys engineers section and is expecting to complete his degree in civil engineering at the end of this semester.