Tilak High School’s dual-sport talent, 16-year-old Petaia Lewanavanua, who recently claimed the U17 Golden Gloves award as the best goalkeeper in the IDC, is back in action for Tilak’s under-17 basketball side.
Lewanavanua has been making his mark in both football and basketball. The standout goalkeeper helped Tilak’s IDC-winning football squad reach the Fiji Secondary Schools finals last week, and now he’s embracing the court, saying his school’s basketball program reached out to him when he was still finding his footing in the sport. “I started in soccer, and I was playing keeper. From there the basketball team in our school were looking for players so I joined. When I started I knew nothing about the sport, couldn’t even bounce. But after I kept learning I managed to make it to the Fiji team last year,” he said. His growth has continued as he aims to add more to Tilak’s basketball journey while contributing to Fiji’s national efforts on the court.
Tilak’s under-17 team opened the Fiji Secondary Schools Basketball Championship with a 37-31 overtime defeat to Latter Day Saints College Fiji. The regular 40-minute game finished 29-29, with Latter Day Saints pulling away in the extra period. The competition is part of a three-day event in Lautoka that features about 70 teams from across the region, with games staged at Yat Sen Secondary School and Marist Brothers High School. Tilak’s next assignment is a matching exercise against Suva Grammar School, slated for this afternoon as the championship progresses.
Tilak head coach Ana Bavadra was encouraged by the team’s overall performance and believes the experience will sharpen them as the tournament unfolds. “This is the same team that reached the under-15 finals last year and they’re playing in the under-17 grade. Our target this year is to take out the title in this grade, and while it may seem hard, I know these boys have what it takes to achieve this goal,” Bavadra stated. The fact Tilak has previously found success in the younger age group adds to the optimism around their campaign.
Lewanavanua’s journey highlights the depth of Fiji’s youth talent and the growing cross-pollination between sports at the school level. His success in both football and basketball signals a bright future for Tilak and for Fiji’s emerging athletes, who are increasingly proving that dedication in one sport can bolster performance in another.
Summary: A rising star who has excelled in both football and basketball, Lewanavanua’s multi-sport path embodies the ambition and potential of Fiji’s youth sports scene as Tilak Eye’s on a title run in the under-17 category.
Additional notes and value add:
– Dual-sport pathways like Lewanavanua’s can broaden skill sets, improve athletic durability, and foster leadership qualities, benefiting both school programs and national teams.
– With the championship featuring around 70 teams, the level of competition is high, offering Tilak a strong test as they push toward the title.
– The next few days will be critical for Tilak as they build cohesion and adapt after their opening setback, with support from a growing network of players who are balancing multiple sports and school commitments.
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