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A pivotal moment for Basketball Fiji, says captain Joshua Fox

From FBC News · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Fiji qualified for the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round after defeating Vietnam, recording the highest international finish in the country’s basketball history.
  • Captain Joshua Fox said the result rewarded years of work and highlighted the gap between Fiji and opponents with professional players and stronger preparation systems.
  • Fiji will play in the next round during the November 23 to December 1 window, while Fox urged greater investment in domestic competitions, training camps and international matches.

Fiji’s historic victory over Vietnam has given the country’s basketball team its biggest international achievement and, in captain Joshua Fox’s view, a chance to change the sport’s direction.

It means a lot. We’ve been striving for something this great. I’m very proud of the boys. It’s definitely a crazy uphill battle.

— Joshua FoxFiji’s captain described the significance of qualifying for the next round.

The win secured Fiji a place in the second round of the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers. Fox, who has followed the national team’s Asian journey since its first FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Thailand, said the breakthrough reflected years of effort. “It means a lot. We’ve been striving for something this great. I’m very proud of the boys. It’s definitely a crazy uphill battle.”

Fiji faced opponents with professional players, regular international fixtures and established preparation programmes. Against that backdrop, Fox described the result as historic. “For us to come together and get a win was very historic, and I’m very proud of the boys.” The victory also marked Fox’s first win in Asia, after Fiji’s difficult introduction to the competition in Thailand.

For us to come together and get a win was very historic, and I’m very proud of the boys.

— Joshua FoxFox reflected on Fiji’s victory over Vietnam.

That early experience showed the team the level it needed to reach. “That allowed us to know kind of where the level had to be. Now that we have this team, I think we were able to continue making steps forward. You don’t want to take steps backwards.” Since Fox first appeared for Fiji in 2015, he has watched the sport develop and has seen younger local players emerge, alongside growing interest from Fijians based overseas.

I think it’s a pivotal time for us to start actually investing in it.

— Joshua FoxFox called for greater investment in basketball in Fiji.

With the next round scheduled for the November window, Fox said Fiji must build on the moment through investment. He called for more local competitions, stronger national-team camps, regular test matches and greater support for players. “Hopefully come back in November, play in the next stage and hopefully sneak out a win. Maybe two. That would be nice.”

Hopefully come back in November, play in the next stage and hopefully sneak out a win. Maybe two. That would be nice.

— Joshua FoxFox outlined his hopes for Fiji’s next-round campaign.
About this summary

Originally published by FBC News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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