Team Fiji’s women’s basketball side came up short in their third match of the Pacific Games after going down 74-75 to Samoa at the Friendship Hall in Honiara for their last pool game.
Trailing by one point in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter, Fiji failed a two-pointer attempt which resulted in their first loss of the tournament.
Fiji led the first two quarters of the match – 16-13 after the first quarter and 39-34 at half-time – before Samoa took over in the third 57-52 and held on until the final buzzer.
Fiji head coach Earl Hughes praised his side for their effort on the court despite losing grasp of a ‘sure win’ in the fourth quarter.
“The girls did what they were supposed to do throughout the match, but unfortunately they were unable to steal the win in the dying seconds of the last quarter,” Hughes said.
More than 10 points down to Samoa halfway in the last quarter, Fiji managed to close the score but was unable to carry it through to the end.
“We were 10 points down halfway through the last quarter, but we were just unable to go all out towards the end,” Hughes said.
“The girls played very well and caught up towards the end of the game, and I am happy with their performance.”
Hughes said the side needed to work on their defence, especially towards the end of the last quarter.
Fiji finished second in Pool A behind Samoa and will now play the third placed team in Pool B.
