The Solomon Islands Men’s National Basketball Team will tip off their 2025 FIBA Melanesian Cup campaign against Sol2023 Pacific Games gold medalists Fiji today – Monday 13th October at 6pm at the Friendship Hall, East Honiara.
Both sides will be aiming for a stronger performance this year after finishing in the bottom two positions in the previous two editions of the sub-regional competition.
The Solomon Islands squad, led by newly appointed head coach Michael Nao, went into camp late last month and have been undergoing intensive preparations at the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) High Performance Centre.
Speaking to the media recently, coach Nao expressed confidence in his team’s progress leading up to the Melanesian Cup.
“We’re putting a lot of work in now, and we trust that we will perform really well. I won’t put high hopes, but we know that we will do better than in previous years.
“I think we’ve been progressing well the energy is there, the mindset is there. The guys are disciplined and committed in their training,” he said.
In the women’s category, the Solomon Islands team will take on New Caledonia at 4pm, with both sides looking to start their campaigns on a positive note.
The competition’s opening match will see 2022 women’s runner-ups Papua New Guinea (PNG) face Vanuatu at 11am am, followed by the men’s teams from both countries kicking off the men’s competition at 1:30 pm.
Meanwhile, over the next six days, some of Melanesia’s top basketball talents will battle it out in Honiara.
Local supporters wishing to catch the action live can purchase tickets at the venue’s ticket booth for $20 SBD per seat.
By TIMOTHY INIFIRI JNR
Solomon Star, Honiara
