YSS on track to retain U17 title

THE young but determined Yat Sen Secondary School girls under-17 basketball side is optimistic about their chances of retaining the title at the Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.

The William Peter-coached side takes on arch-rivals International Secondary School in the semi-final clash at the Vodafone Arena today.

Yat Sen remained unbeaten in the competition, overcoming Natabua High 22-3 and Latter Day Saints 16-8 in the pool games.

Peter said despite the new mix of players in the team, the Flagstaff-based school had done well to advance into the final stages of the Tuckers Ice-Cream sponsored event.

"We have a lot of new players in the squad led by some experienced ones like Salome Bukarau and Kinisimere Waqa," he said.

"It's a good exposure for many of these young players and a good learning experience for them as well playing in this competition."

Despite being rated highly, Peter played down their champion status, adding they were comfortable with the underdog tag. He said while many were betting on them to retain the U17 title, they just wanted to enjoy the competition during the tournament.

"We rather opt for the underdog status because we don't want any pressure on the players. We came here to participate and we just want to perform well."

In the other U17 semis, Saint Joseph's Secondary takes on Suva Grammar School.

Marist works on game subs

DEFENDING under-19 boys champion Marist Brothers' High School is focusing on its subs ahead of the Tuckers Ice Cream Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship semi-final clash against Saint Thomas today at Vodafone Arena in Suva.

Team coach Tevita Ratuyadra said they lacked super subs to make an immediate impact getting into the game.

MBHS beat Yat Sen School 36-19 in the quarter-finals yesterday.

He said their starting line-up comprised of experienced players but they lacked the depth on the bench, which saw them backpaddling in the latter stages of the game.

But despite the odds stacked against them, Ratuyadra is confident the side had what it takes to win their third consecutive title.

"Some players have been playing together for the past three years so the level of understating among the players is quite high," he said.

"It's only the subs which needs more development to compete well at this level of competition."

Ratuyadra said the team was not rushing into their games and taking a match at a time despite being the favourites in this tournament.

He said the players had enough inspiration to do well at the annual event.

"Some of these players are in the Fiji under-20 squad so they are looking at this tournament to improve on their skills," Ratuyadra said.

Basketball Fiji development officer Laisiasa Puamau said although MBHS was the hot favourites, nothing could be taken away from the other schools in the semi-finals.

Natabua High School plays Latter Day Saints in the other UI9 semis.

Results from the Vodafone Arena yesterday:

U19 Boys - YSS (WBD) SGS, GHS 34 NHS 35, LDS 29 YSS 21, LDS 27 QVS 17, Ba Pro 35 Dilkusha 31, Natabua 47 QVS 17 (quarters), Marist 36 Yat Sen 19 (quarters)

U19 Girls - SGS 24 CSS 9, SJSS 14 YSS 1, ACS 28 LDS 19

U17 Girls — LDS 8 YSS 16, LBSS 10 GHS 24, SJSS 29 ISS 7, SGS 25 NHS 16

U15 Girls — SGS 24 NHS 13, GHS (WBD) ACS, SJSS 15 LDS 6, YSS 15 ISS 5.

 

Final Days

FIXTURES for the final day of the Tuckers Ice Cream Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship which will be held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva today:

* Semi-finals:

* U15 Girls: 8.30am: S1 - SJSS vs. YSS (Court 1). S2 - ISS vs. LDS (Court 2).

* U15 Boys: 9.30: S1 - MBHS 2 vs. NHS (Court 1). S2 -LDS vs. YSS. (Court 2).

* U17 Girls: S1 - 10.30: SJSS vs. SGS (Court 1). S2 - YSS vs. GHS (Court 2).

* U17 Boys: S1 - 11.30: LBSS vs. Edupia (Court 1). S2 - ISS vs. NHS (Court 2).

* U19 Girls: S1 - 12.30pm: S1-ACS vs. YSS. S2 -SJSS vs. LDS (Court 2).

* U19 Boys: 1.30: S1 - MBHS vs. Saint Thomas (Court 1). S1 - LDS vs. NHS (Court 2).

* Finals

* 2.30 U15 Boys Final (Court 1), U15 Girls Final (Court 2)

* 3.30 U17 Boys Final (Court 1), U17 Girls Final (Court 2)

* 4.30 U19 Boys Final Court 1), U19 Girls Final (Court 2)

* 5.30: Closing and prize giving ceremony.