Following their losses to the CivPac Amesii men’s and women’s teams in the Major Semi Final of the Port Moresby Elite Basketball (PEB) competition on Wednesday night, November 6th, at the Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex, the Tribes Coffee men’s and women’s teams have a chance each to redeem themselves when they meet the Togoba Coffee (men’s) and the Saints (women’s) in the Preliminary Final on Wednesday, November 13th, at the aforementioned venue.
The Tribes Coffee men’s side have had an exceptional season, remaining undefeated after 9 rounds but lost their mojo in the final round of the normal season and in the first week of the finals, losing both games to the CivPac Amesii. Regardless of the two disappointing losses to Amesii, the Tribes have what it takes to reach the decider and exact revenge on the CivPac-sponsored men in blue.
Conversely, the Togoba Coffee men’s team have had an inconsistent season, but they’ve hit their straps running towards the pointy end of the season and secured the fourth spot to play in the finals. Togoba edged the youthful ACL Kings in the sudden-death elimination final on Tuesday (November 5th) and kept their championship hopes alive.
In the women’s division, the Tribes women were consistent throughout the season, producing strong performances and putting the competition on notice. They have attacking threats all across the court, who are capable of staking their claim for the coveted trophy. They are one of the teams to watch.
On the other hand, the Saints have a couple of experienced players, who possess the striking power and threat to become serious contenders. They are capable of giving the two heavyweights in CivPac Amesii and Tribes Coffee a run for their money.
Togoba Coffee will be led by seasoned campaigner Purari Muri, Obert Muri, Henry Michael, and Tony Haro. The Muri brothers have a few championships under their belts, which they will use their wealth of experience to guide the team. Togoba have big time players who possess the composure and mental fortitude to play under pressure.
On the flip side, the Tribes Coffee will be banking on the experiences of skipper Collin Pine, Cornelius Muri, Eddie Moses and Jesse Pine. Other teams have a couple of PNG representatives and seasoned basketballers, but the Tribes Coffee have young players who are trying to learn and gain confidence in the elite competition. The men in green come in handy during crunch time.
In addition, the Saints will be led by Rosa Kairi and Dianne Lahari. Most of the Saints girls have a background in netball, but they’ve transitioned and adjusted well on the court, stunning everyone to book their spot in the finals. They possess all-rounder players who are capable of attacking the rim from both ends of the floor.
On the contrary, the Tribes Coffee will be steered by captain Jonitha Warabe, complemented by Elina Yala, Margret Kevin, and Cynthia Baia. The Tribes have lethal attacking weapons who can cause damage anywhere on the court. The Saints need to bring their best game to stop the Tribes’ onslaught.
As there’s too much at stake for the four remaining teams in their respective divisions, the much-anticipated Preliminary Finals on Wednesday night (November 13th) at the Sir John Guise Stadium Indoor Complex will see the four sides rise to the occasion and showcase physical and intense basketball spectacle. The upcoming do-or-die double-header fixture should be a thriller!
Comments