By JOE GURINA
A young enterprising basketball player currently in the PNG men’s train on squad is motivated to pursue his basketball career after having his skills recognized and accorded two separate awards in a recently completed local basketball tournament back in his home province in Southern highlands.
The accomplishments accorded towards his participation at the weeklong Epari Kware Unity Basketball Tournament last week was an achievement that 21 year old Misak Epo from Kwalelembo village in Kagua district will build on in his basketball career.
Epo was accorded man of the match and best player of the tournament after leading his Port Moresby based side City Rangers team to claim the K10, 000 prize money that was sponsored by Secretary for Works and Implementation David Were.
The weeklong tournament hosted in Pangia started from December 18 and ended with the grand finale berth on January 3 attracting a total of 16 teams from various centers in the country to participate in the basketball tourney.
The tournament attracted the likes of Mix mates and Hagen Hornbills representing Hagen, Lae Assasumba representing Lae, Jiwaka JFC, HSB Mendi, TNG Erave and Sembirigi representing Erave, host Pangia fielding Kware team 1 and 2 and champions of the tournament City Rangers representing Port Moresby. Six other teams were from within the districts and Pangia.
The Port Moresby side showed their supremacy over host team Epari to bag the ultimate prize money with the guidance of team captain and man of the match Misak Epo who was at the helm of the team’s success.
In an interview with Epo after arriving into the city over the weekend said the occasion has built the spirit of the boys in the team to push on in their basketball career.
Epo was content with both awards and said he will build on this achievements in his career in basketball.
“Currently selected in the train on squad for the PNG men’s basketball team, the awards that I have attained mean a lot for me. This is the first time that I have been accorded an award in a tournament and that is really an achievement and boost for me to push on my career in the sport,’’ he said.
Epo says he is building on in his career and wants to be a national player and represent his country in basketball in the future.
Epo has found an opportunity in the sport of basketball after he could not continue on his education career after completing grade 12 at Badihagwa Secondary school in 2018 due to school fee issues.
However he admits that he will make an attempt to complete his education when opportunity comes his way.