The American Samoa Under-19 Boys National Basketball team won their first game of the FIBA Under-19 Oceania Basketball Championships this past Sunday. t The American Samoa team defeated host Team Fiji by a score of 61-47. the championships are taking place in Suva, Fiji, Dec. 1-6.

Two players for Team American Samoa scored in the double digits: Esene Alai’a finished the game with 12 points followed by Utumoe Va’a who had 11 points.

According to the Fiji news website: www.fijivillage.com, with only two minutes left in the game, Fiji made a late come back after being down to cut the lead to just four points. But a few late 3- pointers by American Samoa and crucial turnovers by the host team, allowed American Samoa to run away with a 14-point victory.

Head Coach of the American Samoa Mens Team Diehl Langkilde told the Fiji Times that Fiji played good basketball. “The game was intense for American Samoa. We were anticipating a tough game, but we were not expecting the type of basketball Fiji was playing,” he said. “Credit to Fiji in how they played. They were killing us in the first half and we changed the tone in our defense,” said Langkilde.

Both of the American Samoan teams have been preparing for the Oceania Championship since last year, where they have been training diligently under the American Samoa Basketball Association with Langkilde leading the Boys team, while Forest Duldulao is the head coach of the Girls team.

On the first day of play, the American Samoa Girls team did not fare so well, as they were downed by Oceania powerhouse Australia, by a score of 113-8. The team from American Samoa was overmatched and overpowered by the Australians from the very start of the game in their dismal defeat.

Fortunately for the American Samoa Girls team, they will have a bye in round 2 and will resume play again in round 3 against Papua New Guinea. The bye will allow them to regroup and hopefully take a first win in the tournament. In round 4, they will be playing Guam and in round five will be taking on New Caledonia.

Team Guam is believed to be the toughest of the next four teams they will be playing. They've already met the toughest—Team Australia.

On the Boys side, Team American Samoa will be playing Tahiti in round 2 before taking on Papua New Guinea in round 3, as round 4 will have them taking a bye. Team American Samoa is expected to win all their games.

Other scores in the Boys Division on the first day of play had New Zealand walloping Tahiti 126 to 27, Guam defeating Solomon Islands 88 to 13 and Australia running all over New Caledonia by a big score of 112 to 38.

 In the Girls Division on the first day of play it was Fiji 65- Samoa 41, Guam downed Papua New Guinea 90- 46, and New Zealand showed their strength against Solomon Islands, 108- 21.

Keep reading Samoa News for the latest updates on the American Samoa Under-19 Boy and Girls National Basketball teams competing in this year’s FIBA Under-19 Oceania Basketball Championships in Suva.

The winner of this championship will represent the Oceania region in the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship that will be taking place in Crete, Greece, next year.