Basketball

France star Tony Parker is targeting five more years in the NBA after his international career ended with an 92-67 defeat to Spain in the Rio 2016 quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Parker, 34, helped France to EuroBasket bronze in 2005 and silver in 2011, scoring more points than any other player in the latter edition.

"Whenever I walk down the street in my H4H uniform, kids come running up to me and they know who I am," said Vanuatu Basketball Federation (VBF)H4H Coordinator Annie Obed.

Oceania is filled with many small island countries.

The people who live in these areas sometimes experience a rough life, subject to natural disasters, poverty and many other community development issues.

Because of this, things such as a healthy diet or physical activity are often not a priority.

This is why Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Timor-Leste and soon Papua New Guinea are using basketball to help show their communities how to be active, happy and healthy.

The program aims to identify, support and train women leaders involved in basketball in the Pacific region. This support builds the capacity of women through a multifaceted training regime that develops leadership, governance, public speaking and negotiating skills.

It is believed to be the first lifetime deal in the shoe and apparel company's 44-year history, although it's assumed that Michael Jordan has at least a de facto agreement for life.

A source close to the deal told ESPN that James' contract easily surpasses the 10-year, $450 million deal Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant signed with Nike last year.

Tahiti, who won gold at the 2011 Games, led throughout the match.

In the first quarter, Tahiti easily scored to lead 21-12 against the weak defense by the home girls.

Tahiti maintained their lead in the second quarter, 35-25.

They were thrashed by a highly fancied Guam side, 103-53.

Guam had height advantage, Guam showed no mercy in the first quarter 24-12.

The visitors extended their lead in the second quarter 52-24 with key shooter Jesus Cruz shooting eight 3 poiners from 10 attempts.

PNG has so far won three out of four games after losing to gold medal holders New Caledonia in their first game. The home boys defeated American Samoa, Fiji and Nauru. 

Tahiti has won all their four matches against Kiribati, Solomon Islands, silver medal holders Guam and Samoa.

This match is expected to be a showdown in front of a sellout crowd.

PNG will be led by captain Dia Muri and playmakers Wright brothers James and Allan, Gabriel Elavo and Matiineng-Iakah Leahy.

With PNG ranked seventh and fifth for the men and women respectively at the 2011 Games, Nauru has  not participated since 2003-2011.

The women team, known as Valivas, will head on to the court at 5pm while the men will play their game at 7pm.

PNG Valivas will be banking on key players Betty Angula, Nesta Sape and captain Marca Muri who have been outstanding in the previous two matches.

Nauru has Shania Ika, Kerina Adam and Jeiziannie Deraudag to power them on.

From PACNEWS