The Tonga Women's basketball team, clinched their inaugural Pacific Games victory with just six players on the court, on Tuesday, 21 November during a thrilling game against Cook Islands in pool play.

Afterwards, the team was defeated by Fiji during quarter-finals.

However, the girls showcased their upcoming talent. The 15-year-old Fa’anaetaua Puloka's performance, secured 23 points, while Lesieli Manupule contributed a double-double with a scoreline of 21-12.

Lesieli Manupule expressed the team's pride in securing the win, emphasizing the collective effort that fueled their success.

"It was so awesome being able to play on this court, and the chemistry that we have built as a team off-court showed on court today," Manupule said. "We are just proud to call it a win."

The victory came despite facing challenges such as tiredness, pain, heat, and fatigue.

However, the team's victory was cut short after Fiji defeated them in 75-46 yesterday, 22 November 2023 - with Fiji going forward into the semi-finals.

Men's basketball

In a Men's Basketball showdown on Saturday, 18 November, Tonga secured a nail-biting 82-80 victory over New Caledonia.

The clash, a highlight of day two at the Pacific Games, drew large crowds in Friendship Hall, where the match kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

Speaking to the Pacific Games News Service, Tonga's Antonio Aziziyan acknowledged New Caledonia's formidable strength in the first half, emphasizing the challenging nature of the encounter.

He said that with the Tonga team's thorough preparation and unity they looked forward to securing more victories in the upcoming matches.