Max Grantham (right) was the star of the Solomons against PNG Photo: Allan Stephen
Solomon Islands have won the opening game of the men's Melanesian basketball cup in Suva.
The Solomons outlasted Papua New Guinea 77-65, with Max Grantham shooting 13 points in the last quarter to steer his team to victory.
Grantham told Fiji Basketball media that they will play with fire in their next game.
"I think just playing out at our pace, just playing our game, not falling into their traps. I think we should play our same game, play with fire, play with intensity, yeah just do what we do and just get another win."
In the day's other men's match, New Caledonia beat Fijia by two points after leading by 14 at half-time (64-62).
In the women's tournament, Papua New Guinea defeated the Solomon Islands 63-51.
The hosts Fiji were too strong for New Caledonia winning 78 to 61.
The top two teams for both men and women at the Melanesian Cup will qualify for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.
The Pacific Games also serves as the official qualifier for the Oceania region to the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.
Pétanque could feature at Pacific Games
Representatives of Pétanque are meeting to discuss the sport possibly being included in the 2027 Pacific Games.
Leaders of the French Polynesia Olympic Committee and International Pétanque Federation have met to develop the sport in Oceania as well as in the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games.
The sports programme is yet to be finalised.
Twenty-three sports are due to be contested at the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.
Tahiti has staged the Pacific Games twice before, in 1995 and 1971.
Head of World Rugby given Samoan chief title
The Chairman of World Rugby, Sir Bill Beaumont, has been bestowed the Samoan chiefly title To'oto'ootumua.
The honorary title is from the village of A'ufaga in the Lepā Constituency.
Samoa Observer reports To'oto'ootumua saying he was honoured and privileged to have received such a high recognition during his visit to Samoa.
Sir Bill, a former England captain who has been the Chairman of the World Rugby since 2016, was invited to Samoa by the Chairman of Lakapi Samoa, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi.
Sir Bill admitted Samoa is facing similar problems with other Pacific island countries, having fewer opportunities to participate in international fixtures ahead of the main international tournaments.
However, that is something they hope to take into consideration.
