While most third-year medical students devote most of their time in hospital wards, Moana Liebregts splits her time between scrubs and the basketball court, balancing the intensity of clinical rounds with the demands of elite sport.
The 22-year-old is preparing to represent Fiji at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, all while juggling the demanding schedule of an MBBS student.
“I am currently a third-year medical student studying MBBS. So, it’s not easy, I would say. Coming in the morning at 6am as well as studying all night. So, I’m trying to juggle it properly,” she said.
Moana is no stranger to representing Fiji in basketball.
She made her debut at 15 and has played in five inter-national tournaments, including the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in 2018, two Pacific Games, FIBA Melanesian Cup Basketball in 2022 and the FIBA U16 Asian Championship in 2019.
But this is her first Mini Games, and she is determined to make it count.
“We’re working on our fitness and also working on our offense as well. Since we do have Makaefa, the girl you spoke to, she’s a rather new player, we’re trying to also adapt to playing with her, as the rest of us have played together in the recent tournaments.”
“But basketball Fiji and coach has been really supportive,” she shared.
Moana’s basketball journey began with her three brothers.
“They all played, so I had no other choice,” she laughed.
Today, she is also a coach, helping young girls who are just starting out.
“I’m also a coach for the small, younger girls. And I think just coaching them as well, seeing them in the will to learn and sort of learn, encourages me to be a better player, not only for myself, but for them as well,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Tongan lass, who has also represented Fiji in swimming, now has a clear goal: to help her team bring home gold at the Mini Games, taking place from June 29 to July 9.
