THE Kaunikuila Islanders men’s basketball team is drawing confidence from its experience and strong team culture for the Vodafone Basketball Fiji Cup Championship, which begins today at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.
Team captain Orisi Naivalurua said the side had worked hard despite facing several challenges in the lead-up to the national tournament. He explained that many players are working fathers who juggle employment and family responsibilities, making training time difficult to secure.
“With the little time that we’ve had, we’ve tried to make the best of it. We’ve focused on learning our plays and identifying areas where we can capitalise during games,” Naivalurua said.
The Islanders enter this year’s competition determined to improve on last season’s campaign, which ended in a semi-final defeat.
While the goal is to reach the final and lift the title, Naivalurua said the team’s focus remained on controlling the fundamentals.
“When we have the ball, we keep it. When we’re on defence, we try to get the ball back. We’re concentrating on the basics and communication on the court.”
Several players in the squad have represented Fiji at national level and continue to mentor younger members coming through the club ranks.
“The knowledge and wisdom passed down by the national representatives is a huge boost for our younger players. We’re intentionally building future leaders in basketball.” The squad includes four to five younger players this season, while Kaunikuila’s other club teams feature several athletes fresh out of high school.
Despite challenges such as limited court availability and balancing personal commitments, Naivalurua said the team was eager to compete.
