Papua New Guinea’s rising basketball star Philomena Isei says it’s an honour to represent her country, as the national women’s 3×3 team prepares to make history at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Originally from Kiriwina in Milne Bay and Mailu in Central Province, the 22-year-old is embracing a new chapter that could prove a game-changer in her basketball career.

“I was emotional when I received news that I was going to be one of four women selected to represent PNG in 3×3 basketball,” she said.

Isei joins Jacky Asiba, Nauna Lelai and veteran 3×3 player Normalisa Dobunaba in the squad. Asiba and Lelai were also her teammates at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

The journey to the Commonwealth Games began on the courts of Alotau, the capital of Milne Bay Province.

“I started playing basketball in 2018 back home. Through commitment, I got the opportunity to join Alotau Basketball Association’s team to compete in the U15s National Championship,” she said.

“I come from a family actively involved in sports back home. My dad used to play football back in the day, mum was involved in netball. My older brothers play football and basketball.”

Her talent quickly earned national recognition. Following the 2018 U15 National Championships, Isei received her first PNG call-up, representing the country at the U15 FIBA Oceania Championship, which PNG hosted that year.

A year later, she again wore national colours at the U17 FIBA Oceania Championship in New Caledonia.

While her early representative career was built in the traditional 5×5 format, Isei only made her 3×3 debut last year when the inaugural FIBA Oceania U23 Youth Nations League ran alongside the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

The competition served as a direct qualification pathway to last year’s U23 World Cup and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“I made a transition from 5×5 to 3×3 in December two years ago to compete in the All Stars National Championship, which was held in Goroka, Eastern Highlands,” Isei said.

The switch paid dividends.

“I made my first appearance for Team PNG at my first Pacific Games (Mini) in Palau. We fell short of a podium finish, but that performance helped push our ranking for qualifications for the Glasgow Games,” she said.

PNG’s third team sport to appear at the Games

Earlier this year, Papua New Guinea secured one of five Oceania spots for Glasgow, earning the right to make history.

The women’s 3×3 team will become just the third PNG team sport, after rugby sevens and netball, to compete at a Commonwealth Games.

PNG women’s 3×3 head coach Gavin Dela Cruz said the Games represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the team.

“It’s really exciting to see how well the girls have been preparing from online to high performance camps in Port Moresby, Gold Coast and now in Brisbane, Australia,” he said.

“Watching how they started to where we are now, you can see the excitement as we prepare to compete against other nations.

“For me as a coach, this tournament will be the highlight of my coaching career being able to lead these women to compete at their first Commonwealth Games appearance.”

FIBA Oceania Executive Director Amanda Jenkins said the region’s growing presence at the Commonwealth Games reflected years of investment in the 3×3 format.

“This is a huge milestone to have five nations in the women’s competition and three in the men’s, and it shows that after many years of emphasis on this discipline, the opportunities are now becoming more readily available, and our federations are ready to step up to these opportunities.”

Papua New Guinea and Tonga’s women’s teams, along with Fiji’s men’s and women’s teams, will make their Commonwealth Games 3×3 debuts alongside established powers Australia and New Zealand.

For Isei, the journey from the courts of Alotau to the Commonwealth Games stage is a reward for years of hard work and dedication. 

Now, she and her teammates have the chance to break new ground and inspire the next generation of Papua New Guinean basketball players when they step onto the court in Glasgow.

Original Link: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/philomena-isei-3×3-png-basketball-rising-star/106933922