The NMI Women’s 3×3 Team members, right, pose with their bronze medals during the awards ceremony at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Koror, Palau on Wednesday.
Contributed photo
THE NMI Women’s 3×3 Basketball Team may not have come out on top, but they’ll still be returning home with hardware after defeating Papua New Guinea in a nail-biting bronze medal game, 21–19, on Wednesday at Palau High School.
It was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with several lead changes between the two teams.
Papua New Guinea controlled much of the pace and lead early on with a mix of long-range shots and strong finishes at the rim. However, the NMI stayed resilient as Alliyah Fernandez — who had been carrying the delegation throughout the tournament — fired back-to-back clutch triples to tie the game at 17–17, then again at 19–19.
On the next possession, both teams battled hard for the game-winning shot. Fernandez was fouled as she rose for another three-pointer and was sent to the free-throw line.
Reliable as ever, Fernandez stayed composed and drained both shots from the charity stripe to seal the 21-19 victory and upset Papua New Guinea for the bronze medal.
In addition to Fernandez, the NMI women’s 3×3 team includes Kina Rangamar, Kaia Travilla, and Yasmeen Younis.
