 |
| Pepe's in the Cook Islands in 2009 Source: Near the Hoop |
TWO former PNG international basketball representatives are
among the 15 members Pacific MMI PNG Pepes squad that will participate at the
forthcoming Pacific Netball Series in Fiji on the 27th – 29th of June this year.
They are Madang’s rising star Nesta Sape, daughter of former
basketball icons, Penny and Mafu Sape and Lae’s strong defender Yanam Hopping,
both going as non travelling reserves which indicates a tough selection done
after a successful selection trials over the weekend.
The other player travelling as a non travelling reserve is
the only player from Kairuku-Hiri netball association Philomena Naime.
President of PNG Netball Julienne Leka-Maliaki said the
selection process included fitness tests, medical and game or competition
performances which saw 15 elite female athletes selected to represent PNG at
the Pacific series next month.
While the team comprises both experience and youth, they have
also retained seasoned campaigners like Lua Rikis, Winnie Mavara and Rak Buase
leading the team.
Some of the young guns named in the side as Rhoda Kerea,
Rayleen Andrew, Mari Oti and Nancy Kapi while Sape and Hopping are sloted in as
non travelling reserves.
Port Moresby has once again dominated the team providing the
core of the players with ten players while the rest come from Madang for Sape,
Lae is Hopping and Nerrie Adula who is in the team as a midcourt player while
Philemon Naime from Kairuku – Hiri netball association will join Hopping and
Sape as non travelling reserve and Tau galewa is the only female representative
from Central Netball Association.
The full squad are balanced with five in all incuding shooters,
midcourt and defenders. The team has Lua Rikis, Marie Ottio, Rayleen Andrew,
Rhoda Kerea, Nesta Sape ( shooters), Nerrie Adula, Kula Iamo, Marinama Maha,
Gasi Moka, Philomena Naime (Midcourt), Winnie Mavara, Raka Nope-Buase, Nancy
Kapi, Tau Galewa and Yanam Hopping (Defenders).
No comments:
Post a Comment