The Fiji’s men’s basketball team has suffered its second straight defeat at the FIBA Melanesian Cup, going down 63-56 to Papua New Guinea in a tight contest today.
Despite a strong start and opportunities to take control, Fiji struggled to capitalize on scoring chances, while PNG’s solid defensive effort proved to be the deciding factor.
Fiji had earlier lost 70-67 to Solomon Islands in their opening match last night, a result that saw the Solomon Islands register their first ever win over Fiji in the tournament’s history.
Fiji led 25-22 after the first quarter, but their opponents rallied to take a 40-35 lead at halftime.
In the final quarter, costly turnovers and missed shots sealed Fiji’s fate.
With two losses, Fiji’s title defence has become significantly tougher.
The men’s team will now face Vanuatu at 12pm tomorrow, while the Fiji women’s team is set to take on the Solomon Islands at 6.30pm this evening.
