THE Crest Fiji Pearls were forced to work for every ball as Papua New Guinea tested their physicality in their latest match.
The Pearls responded with a 60–40 victory over PNG, with coach Michelle Parsons saying the team remained focused on meeting its performance targets rather than the scoreline.
“The match today was really physical and even though the scoreline looks like there was a bit of a gap in a substantial win, the PNGs did a wonderful job of challenging us on every ball,” Parsons said.
“They certainly didn’t concede any territory or position early or easy.”
Parsons said the match provided another opportunity for the Pearls to test themselves while giving players across the squad valuable court time.
She said the team had set specific performance targets for the match, including scoring 15 goals and making four gains per quarter.
Parsons said the approach helped keep the players focused on their own performance instead of becoming distracted by the scoreboard.
The match also saw 18-year-old Elizabeth Ilisapeci Adrole make her international debut.
“Obviously Elizabeth Adrole today made her debut as an 18-year-old which for a young shooter that’s really cool.”
She said the week had been significant for the players, with the team showing improvement in its level and quality of performance.
“I think you’ll have seen a shift in performance and I think everyone who watched any of the games would have seen that the girls came out and performed so well in terms of the level and the quality of the performance that we’re putting out there.”
