PNG kick off Asia Cup campagin with positive performance despite loss

Basketball veteran Moses Lune in action during PNG's first game against Kazakhstan. *(Image: Supplied)*

Papua New Guinea 3x3 Men's and Women's team faced tough competition in their first matches of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup yesterday.

PNG Paradise Men's team narrowly went down to Kazakhstan with a score of 18-16, while the Women's outfit encountered a strong Indonesian team, resulting in a 17-5 loss.

Head Coach Gabriel Elavo outlined key areas for improvement, emphasizing the need to minimize turnovers, avoid careless fouls, and exercise patience in decision-making.

Elavo stressed the importance of communication on defense and maintaining focus on executing set plays effectively.

Betty Angula going for a lay-up during the women's match against Indonesia. *(Image: Supplied)*

He also highlighted positive aspects of the team's performance, including composed play, creating scoring opportunities, and strong defensive efforts.

Despite these strengths, he acknowledged the team's potential for further growth and development.

Both teams have two challenging matchups scheduled for today, where the men's face Maldives at 4:25 pm (PNG time) before meeting Iran later in the night (8:55pm) for the final qualifying game.

The Women's team will take on Macau at 4:50pm PNG in their first game prior to concluding their pool campaign against Turkmenistan at 9:45pm.