The National Women’s Team started well against the taller boys of the Youth Blue, but a late quarter run by the tallest player on court in Wiseman Olkerill for the Blues with 8 points gave the Youth Team a handy 8 point lead at the first change. 

The Women increased their defence in the second quarter and kept the main scorers of the opposition to just 11 points and go into the half time interval only down by 6.  The third quarter belonged to the Youth Team on the score board and the Women were staring down the barrel of defeat.  The girls in the Youth Team were contributing, and  Aphra Uchel, Alexi Meltel and Isabel Goodall were in the thick of everything.

In the final quarter the National Women showed good patience in offence and with a lift in defensive intensity managed to draw level with just 3 minutes remaining.  A big last quarter by veterans Stephanie Calvo and Happy Fritz helped the Women to maintain a lead that the Youth were unable to overcome in the dying seconds.  The National Women ran out winners by 66 – 61.

Top scorers for the Women were Sesengel Ketebengang with 13, Stephanie Calvo with 11 and Yvonne Ueda with 10.  For the Youth Blue it was Keene Isao leading all scorers with 18 and ably supported with Marvic Ngchar and RB Dorado with 15 a piece.

In the Men’s International Tournament the National Men’s Team came up against the FBL All Stars.  This time FBL Coaches Jimmy Domingo and Peter Magbanua had all their charges at the game on time and were able to start much better than the previous night.  However, by mid quarter the National Team had opened up a handy 10 point lead and won the first quarter by 32 – 13.  The second and third quarters were much tighter Filipino big man Jay Naguit showing his power and inside moves to have the National Men up by only 16 at the last change. 

National Head Coach Johnny Kintaro let his players have a few “truths” at three quarter time and they rallied to the challenge with a final quarter score of 35 – 12 to run out comfortable winner 103 – 65.  For the National Team Gino Smau continued his good scoring display with 22 points and was helped along by Arnold Undecimo and Raymond Watson with 14 each and Lendl Kloulubak with 13.  For the Filipino Team Jay Naguit was the leading scorer with 18 and Dennis Castro and Raul Osias chipped in with 10 each. 

In tonight’s Super League the National Women face up to Youth Yellow and the National Men will have their work cut out as they battle with the BMP All Stars.