ON THIS DAY IN OUR HISTORY: Stars win basketball title

Online Stars last night broke a six-year drought to win their first Port Moresby women’s A Grade basketball premiership. They beat University 50-41 before a capacity crowd at the Hohola basketball courts to take the title. It was also their first grand final appearance. It was the accurate long shots by teenage South Pacific Games representative Tatuve “Taxi” Parapa, in the second half, that helped them grab the win. She scored a total of 15 points, 11 of them in the crucial second half. Stars battled against strong opposition in the second half and were forced into a session of solid defence work to maintain their lead. Stars had led 28-13 at the break. The second half went to University; however, it didn’t seem to scare Star’s coach Bob Browne. He said after the match: “It didn’t scare them (Stars) at all and I knew they (Uni) wouldn’t make commended the defence work of his girls but added they lacked speed in the offensive aspect of the game. University failed to make a good start when shots by their top girls, Dora Malum and Kaia Kapa, went astray. They allowed Stars to take quick shots from inside the keyway, and this was their downfall in the first half. Strong words from coach Thomas Wyatt at the break made them jump to a quick recovery from the resumption, resulting in quick baskets by Kaia Kapa, Monica Gegeyo and Betty Pillsa. In the men’s grand final, Coleman defeated Stars 64-61. To see this and access more stories from our 55-year-old history from the 1950s to 2000s, do visit our Post-Courier archive or email denaha@spp.com.pg or call +675 309 1120 for more information.