Guam debuts in fashion, American Samoa routs Tahiti in Basketball
The souped-up Guam women's squad proved its seriousness to contest for a title this year, taking a massive 82-48 win over Papua New Guinea to open its 2019 Pacific Games in style.
All but two players scored in double figures for the 2015 Pacific Games fifth placer Guam led by Mia San Nicolas with 14 markers and six rebounds in just 19 minutes of play.
Kathryn and Destiny Castro together with Joylyn Pangilinan also chipped in 13, 12 and 10 markers respectively for a scattered attack of Guam which seized an early 54-20 halftime lead and never looked back.
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PNG had no answer for Guam's firepower as Magdalene Javapro proved to be the only silver lining with 16 points and three rebounds.
Owing to its trapping defense, Guam forced PNG to 43 turnovers and 28-percent shooting that spelled the difference in the win as it went on to translate it to 38 points off turnovers.
Meanwhile, American Samoa proved to be as good as advertised being the last edition’s Silver Medalist as it trounced Tahiti, 85-61 to open its 2019 Pacific Games women’s basketball campaign on fire.
Malia Nawahine and Lahni Salanoa led from the front with 15 and 11 markers, respectively, for the American Samoans who broke the game wide open in the first two quarters with a quick 46-26 upper hand.
Despite top gunner Jazmine Davis settling for just eight points, American Samoa stepped on the pedal in the second half, leading by as many as 32 points on its way to roaring victory.
American Samoa nipped Tahiti in rebounding department, 46-40 as well as in inside points (28-14), points off turnovers (25-14) and bench points (35-25).
Alizee LeFranc led the charge for the Tahitians with a 16-point, six-rebound outing in the loss as ace Oceane LeFranc struggled for eight points, six rebounds, and three steals.
This article is published from FIBA with permission.
