AFTER two painful championship defeats, Eli Rigamoto finally has his national title — and now the Yat Sen captain wants to take the next step and wear the Fiji colours.
For Eli Rigamoto, winning the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball National Championships under-17 title was not the end of the journey.
It was the beginning.
The Yat Sen Secondary School captain led his side to a convincing 27-12 victory over International School Suva at the Vodafone Arena last week, but his thoughts have already turned towards a bigger challenge — earning selection for Fiji.
Rigamoto, a Year 11 student who has been at YSS throughout his secondary education, has set his sights on making the national under-17 team and continuing his progression through Fiji’s age-grade pathway.
“Yes, I’m hoping to enter the under-17 national team next year and for many years to come,” he said after the final.
For Rigamoto, representing Fiji is an ambition that extends beyond the U17 grade.
He wants to progress through the national age grades before eventually pushing for a place in the senior team.
The confidence comes from seeing basketball grow around him.
Rigamoto believes the sport is beginning to establish itself at YSS, despite rugby remaining the dominant sport in Fiji.
“Basketball in Yat Sen, it’s starting to be a major sport,” he said.
He believes that growth can eventually translate into success beyond Fiji.
While acknowledging that Fiji is not yet widely recognised as a basketball nation, Rigamoto sees no reason why that cannot change.
“I see it developing in many years to come,” he said.
His immediate challenge, however, is keeping the winning culture alive.
Next year, Rigamoto and his teammates will move into the U19 grade with the confidence of national champions.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “Every year, it is very exciting to look forward to.”
The title carried extra weight for the young captain.
Before last week’s triumph, Rigamoto had experienced the disappointment of losing two previous championships.
“For the past two years, I’ve been schooling. I’ve lost two championships.”
That pain made the victory even sweeter.
“It means a lot.”
Rigamoto credited his teammates, parents, teachers and supporters for helping the team get over the line, but the captain knows the hard work is only beginning.
The national U17 crown has given him a taste of success.
Now he wants Fiji to taste it on the international stage.
