After a nervous start the Fiji team settled into the game and though their intensive full court man to man defence managed to create several turnovers to take a handy 8 point margin some 5 minutes into the first quarter.  The full court passing fast break by the New Zealand team was causing the Fijians some problems and frequent subbing by Wellingtom Coach, Howard Metekingi , allowed his players to stay fresh and keep pace with Fiji and end the first quarter just 6 points down (21-27).

        Fiji started the game with their overseas based players in Helen Roden, Valerie Nainima, Mikaelar Whippy, Letava Whippy and Aggie Tuilevuka.  New player Roden, a point guard from Texas Christian University, is a real find for Coach Michael Whippy.  Able to score inside and out, play strong defence and rebound well, she proved a valuable asset to the team by working well with Nainima and the Whippy sisters.  Back to the Fiji team after a couple of years absence, Tuilevuka is as athletic as ever and plays well above her height of 175cms on the boards.

        Coach Whippy used his locally based players during this quarter of Seini Dobui and Mareta Mani along with Wellington based Bulou Tuisie.  Fiji came out strong in the second quarter with even more intensive defence and soon had a lead of 16 points.  This lead was never headed, although Wellington forward Nola Wainohu and guard Ava Filipo were scoring well from the outside to keep in contact later in the quarter.  Coach Metekingi continued to rotate his players frequently, searching for a combination that could close the gap, and used a zone defence for the latter part of the quarter to slow the faster tempo of the Fijians.  Wellington improved their position to see Fiji going to the long interval with a small lead and the score at 53 - 48.

       The third quarter was a shootout from the 3 point arc with Nola Wainohu hiitting 4 three pointers for Wellington and Valerie Nainima hitting three for Fiji, however with Helen Roden also hitting 2 from the arc, Fiji went to the third quarter break with the score at 81 - 66.  Wellington import guard Sezan Mercan tried valiantly to get her team back into the game with aggressive driving to the basket and managed to cause Coach Whippy to have to sub some of his starters as they got into foul trouble.  Coach Whippy managed to get all his players onto the court during this quarter and the younger members in Brittany Hazelman, Ofa Moce and Alisi Tabualevu contributed well.

       Both teams showed signs of fatgue during the final quarter after such a fast paced game and the dominance of Fiji's Matila Waqanidrola on the boards at both ends kept Fiji with a comfortable lead until the end.  This was an entertaining game that thrilled the small local crowd of 500 people and all are looking forward to Thursday night's game which is tipped to be far closer.  

SCORES                                    Wellington                                  Fiji         

      1st Quarter                               21                                       27

      2nd Quarter                              21                                       32

      3rd Quarter                               18                                       24

      4th Quarter                               8                                         13

      FINAL SCORES                           68                                       96

TOP SCORERS         

                        Wellington   Nola Wainohu 19,  Ava Filipo 12,  Melissa Zetog 9, Soraya Jensen-Umaga 8

                        Fiji               Valerie Nainima 33, Helen Roden 27,  Mikaelar Whippy 13, Letava Whippy 8