Tonga’s Scoring Machine Tells How She Does It

Family is what pushes Tonga Tala goal shooter Uneeq Palavi to do her best on the court.

The 20-year-old is the top goal scorer at the Vodafone Oceania Netball World Cup qualifiers, starring in the Tala’s three consecutive wins.

Tonga beat Samoa, 69-52 on Tuesday, won 59-29 against the Fijian Pearls and thrashed Papua New Guinea 89-28 on Thursday night.

Palavi shot 37 goals in the game against Fiji and 45 in the two quarters she played in against PNG.

Asked what’s on her mind when she’s on the court, the City West Flacon player said: “Not much, just thought of my family back home and the fact that not many of our sports in Tonga has been pulling through, I just thought of them.

“Before I shoot, I just hold the ball, breathe and count to three.

“I train six times a week back at home.”

Palavi idolises former Silver Ferns shooter Catherine Latu-Tuivaiti who also played for Samoa.

Palavi, who has a Samoan mother, said she would have considered playing for her mother’s country if they had approached her first.

“Tonga reached out to me first. If Samoa reached to me then probably I would have gone with them.

The unranked Tala’s currently lead the table with six points and took on Cook Islands last night. They are on bye today.

JUST A GLANCE

Tonga’s Queen bestowed a royal new name on their national netball team. They’ll be known as the Tongan Tala and Tonga’s Netball Association says it’s given the team a renewed strength for the Oceania World Cup Qualifiers.

The name comes from the Tala bird, a rare sea-diving bird, that’s known as a good omen in the country.

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