THE Crest Pearls Fiji will turn their attention to Papua New Guinea as they look to finish their Netball Oceania qualifiers campaign on a positive note.
Fiji captain Matila Vocea said the team would not take PNG lightly following their 72-60 defeat to Tonga yesterday.
The 26-year-old said the players remained focused on supporting one another throughout the match against Tonga and would carry that approach into their final game.
“For our game against PNG today, we’re just not going to take anything lightly,” Vocea said.
“They’re here for a reason as well. We just want to finish on a high. “I believe that the girls can do it. Our girls can do it.”
Vocea said the match against Tonga provided valuable lessons for the side, particularly around maintaining possession and avoiding unnecessary pressure when moving the ball.
Despite the 12-goal loss, Vocea praised the team’s effort and the connections between the players.
“It was amazing. I think today was a great game. We played until the end. I like the connections within the team, how we kept each other up throughout the whole hour of the game.”
Vocea also acknowledged the support from Fiji fans in Tonga, including family members who attended the match.
“We had a lot of people from Fiji here as well. The support was great. I love the support. They come in right before we even enter. They’re already sitting there and we love it so much.”
Looking ahead, Vocea said the team would use the experience against Tonga as part of its development for future campaigns.
For now, the Crest Pearls’ focus is on PNG, with Vocea confident the side can respond in its final outing.
The Fiji Pearls face PNG at 3pm today.
