By Podi Vai, EMTV Cadet Journalist-student
In the men’s division, New Zealand took off to a good start in its first match against Guam.
From the first whistle and first to score, New Zealand showed great defense and attack against Guam, to lead in the fourth quarter.
New Zealand scored first in less than a minute into the first half.
Having the height advantage over Guam, New Zealand kept the ball strongly positioned, only to add more scores.
But, Tonga, on the other hand, kept their cool, while working hard on their defense, managing to score three minutes into the first quarter.
The game got even tougher as Guam began to over protect its defense, and go hard on New Zealand.
But scoring two and three pointers, New Zealand, ended the first quarter with 26 points to Guam’s 10.
In the second quarter, Guam, banking their trust on their forwards, slowly managed to score two and three pointers to bring their score up 27 points, but proving to strong in the quarter, New Zealand, continued to score, dunking baskets after baskets only to stop at the second quarter siren with 63 points.
Displaying great skills and techniques, the game got even tougher, as players desperately tried scoring from the three pointer line while racing with the time.
But New Zealand becoming the buzzer beaters, and left Guam trailing behind with 3 to New Zealand 96 in the third quarter.
The final quarter was Guam’s only hope to make up for the first three quarters, but it was all New Zealand by full time, beating Guam 131-41.
