Dynamic Redz hoist Kaunikuila Cup

The Dynamic Redz women’s basketball team continued to show their dominance after they defeated Kaunikuila Royals 32–15 in the fi nal of

the McDonald’s Kaunikuila Cup at Suva’s Vodafone Arena, last Saturday.

Team captain Lice Ravai dedicated the win to their supporters from Raiwaqa.

“This team represents Raiwaqa and some of us are still in high school,” she said.

“We represent the young girls back at home.”

Ravai was impressed with her young players stepping up on the big stage.

“For some of these girls, it’s their fi rst outing at this kind of big tournament, so I’m proud of them stepping up,” she said.

“The secret to our success is the basics of the sport that we prioritised in our two and half months of training.”

Ravai added that their team must improve their defence in future tournaments.

“We are going to work on our defence because a good defensive team win championship,” she said.

“The next thing for us is the Fiji Cup which will be in June and we’re preparing for that as we want to retain our title.”

The Dynamic Redz team have stamped their mark as the best women’s basketball side in the country having won the Vodafone Cup in 2025 and the Kaunikuila Cup in 2026 respectively.

“We want to bring more females into the sport,” Ravai said.

“The Raiwaqa association is doing clinics every Saturday from nine to 11am. If you want your kids to know the sport especially female athletes bring them down to the court.”

In the men’s final, the Islanders beat Boston 22–21. Both the Islanders and Dynamic Redz teams received $700 each.

Boston and Kaunikuila Royals received meal vouchers to McDonald’s as runnersup. Dynamic Redz’s Ranadi Koroi won the

Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the women’s category while John Francis of the Islanders won the men’s MVP award.

Koroi won one-night accommodation for two adults with breakfast. Francis won a South Sea Islander Day cruise for two adults.