''The future of Tonga basketball is extremely bright'' says head coach Will Deberg

NUKU'ALOFA (Tonga) - It was only five years ago that Tonga made their return to FIBA basketball for the first time in nearly two decades. Now, they are looking forward to playing in their second straight Pacific Games.

"I AM REALLY EXCITED NOT ONLY ABOUT OUR CURRENT TEAM, BUT THE POTENTIAL TEAM WE COULD HAVE IN A FEW YEARS."

- Will DeBerg, Tonga head coach

Tonga basketball have a strong belief in the power of the Tongan saying "Si'i pe kae ha" (which translates to "Small but Mighty"). They certainly carry themselves according to that belief. And that is something they want to communicate through their basketball at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

"I love a lot of things about this current Tongan team," said head coach Will DeBerg. We are tough, competitive, and really unselfish. I want people who watch us play for the first time to be blown away by how hard we play, how we share the ball, and how we compete on both ends of the court."

That goes in line with the fundamental goals laid out by Tonga Basketball which are to showcase their unique culture to the world and to also contribute to the growth and development of Tonga through the sport of basketball.

That was all rejuvenated in 2018 when a spirited group took the court at the FIBA Polynesian Cup to go on a magical run that resulted in a spot at the Pacific Games. They were then able to get a win over the Solomon Islands at the 2019 Pacific Games to finish 7th and have been continuously building up on that over the past few years.

Among one of the catalysts that has been a part of keeping this development moving forward in a positive direction is DeBerg, the head coach appointed to lead the team through the competition. The American is seasoned both as a player and a head coach, but even then, his experience with Tonga basketball has been eye-opening.

"It's really special to represent an entire country and their FIBA basketball journey," he said. "Having played pro basketball in France and having coached in the NCAA for over 5 years, neither of those compares to what it's like to represent an entire nation."

That is the same sentiment and pride that is constantly expressed throughout the program.

"It's a true honor to represent the Kingdom of Tonga," said Tongan star Marcus Alipate when he recently played at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup earlier this year. Alipate was the hero of their outstanding run in 2018, scoring a mind-blowing 39.2 points per game at the Polynesian Cup and 34.3 points per contest at the Pacific Games.

It is likely that Alipate, along with other mainstays like Viliami Foketi and Siale Bain-Vete will be back for another Pacific Games run - which is a good sign moving forward.

"I think the future of Tonga basketball is extremely bright," DeBerg expressed about the future of the program. "We have a great mix of older players who have been with the team for a while and a bunch of young, talented players all across the world, including a handful currently playing in the NCAA in the USA."

"I am really excited not only about our current team, but the potential team we could have in a few years."

FIBA