Papua New Guinea men’s team is in pool B with Fiji, New Caledonia, Nauru, and American Samoa while in pool A Kiribati, Samoa, Guam, Tahiti and Solomon Islands make up the rest of the teams participating in the men’s basketball competition.
From PACNEWS
The women’s team are in pool A with Tahiti, Guam and Nauru, while pool B see’s American Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji and New Caledonia together.
PNG Basketball Federation president Nick Daroa said the draw for Team PNG has PNG against some of the best teams, but said in the event that the round robin competition does a crossover PNG should be looking at the facing teams they have defeated in the past.
"The women’s quest for gold begins with a baptism of fire against Tahiti who they haven’t faced since 2013’s Pacific Open Championships in Wellington, New Zealand."
"It will be a tough game and I expect the new members of the team to be challenged by their opponent, while for the men’s team they are expected to face a tougher challenge from New Caledonia, Fiji and American Samoa should they face off in the crossover," Daroa said.
The competition will kick off on Friday July 3 at 1pm and will end with the gold medal play off for the men’s on Sunday July 12 at 3pm.
All basketball competitions will be held at the Taurama Aquatic Centre Courts –BSP Arena while the semi finals and finals will be held at the Sir John Guise Indoor Stadium –PNG Power Dome.