U18 league on the roll

BASKETBALL Fiji has welcomed Raiwaqa Basketball Association's under-18 super league initiation.

The competition which will round off next week started last week with 14 teams - eight boys and six girls' teams.

Raiwaqa Basketball president Saula Koroi said the idea of organising the competition was to help in the development of young basketball players.

He said through this competition, the Basketball Fiji could also recognise some talented players who could be drafted into the national squad for further development.

Koroi said with the national team competing in a U19 tournament next year, the U18 super league competition provided a good platform for the national body to select the potential reps.

"This concept was designed to develop young players and also help Basketball Fiji to find out what can be done to improve the skill level of young players," Koroi said.

"We have been having U10 and U15 competitions in the past and hosting the U18 tournament is another way of helping in the development of future national reps."

Basketball Fiji development officer Laisiasa Puamau said Raiwaqa Basketball had been leading the way in improving the standard of the sport in Fiji.

"We are happy to be part of this initiation. The tournament will help us breach the gap to Australia and New Zealand age group teams," he said.

"We are able to identify some talented players from the Eastern division. These players would be drafted in the Eastern national (U20) training squad and a similar tournament will be held in West to get a Western national training team."

Puamau said the national age group team would then be selected from the Eastern and Western national training team.

Meanwhile, Milika Koyamainavure led Adi Cakobau and Grace Taito's Chosen are leading the race in the girls division.

In the boys competition, Isireli Vuetibau's Mighty Mights and Mataika Koyamainavure led Marist Brothers look the favourites. "We thank the Kauvesi family for sponsoring the tournament," Koroi said.

 

Source: The Fiji Times Newspaper Online