The passion for his basketball career begins at an early age after being introduced to the sport by a friend at the age of 10. This was way back in 1995 at Toowong Primary School in Brisbane, Australia while he was in Class Five. At 25, Laisiasa Puamau considers basketball as his favorite and he has even opted to take some time out from his studies and help lift the sport of his dream on the local front. Lai admitted having the taste of basketball Down Under for the first time; being a young Fijian boy and coming from a rugby mad country, basketball was very much a new sport which he finds both challenging and exciting.“I would spend countless hours on the courts practicing and trying to master the moves of my NBA idol Michael Jordan. “In my second year playing basketball I was selected into the Queensland U16 State team however due to high cost of living in Australia I was not able to travel with the team where I became both the captain of my Primary and Secondary School team in Australia and continued with the trend on our return to Fiji. At 16 years old (Form 5), Lai was selected into the National men's team that defeated Australia and New Zealand to winning silver in the 2001 FIBA Oceania Men's and Women's Championship, held in Suva.This was where he continued to represent the country as both a player and a coach.
The former Marist Brothers High School student added the greatest highlight in his playing career was selected captain of the 2004 National U20 team that finished fourth in the 2004 FIBA Oceania U20 Tournament in Coffs Harbor, Australia and been part of the victorious 2007 SPG National Men's Team. Later on in 2008 he was later selected as the National U20 men's Head Coach at the age of 23 that participated in the 2008 FIBA Oceania U20 Youth Tournament in Guam. “We moved to Australia for my parents to study; my mother Priscilla Puamau was pursing her PHD in education and my dad Sowane Lutu Puamau was pursuing his Masters.”
Originally from Nasaqalau, Lakeba in Lau, his mother hails from Lomaloma village in Vanua Balavu he was born at CWMH, Suva on November 15, 1984 and happily married with a 2 years old son. He attended Holy Trinity Primary School from 1991 to1994 and MBHS from 1999 to 2004. In 2006 - 2008 he was one of the lucky sports personalities awarded with the All-Rounder Scholarship to pursue Law studies at the University of the South Pacific. He is currently on break from his Law studies, which he hopes to continue in the second semester this year. “I took a break from studies as I wanted to make a difference in the sport that I have learnt to love. “Trusting in the new executive team at Basketball Fiji, I applied for the vacant position in March 2009 to become the Development Officer for the federation.”
Lai has been on the job as BF development officer for nine months beginning in mid March, 2009 and his contract will expire in March 2011. He said the greatest challenge they face as a federation is the funding. Basketball is a minor sport in the country however Lai added is a growing sport and with growth you need support from the business sectors and various agencies. “Basketball Fiji will always be grateful to our major sponsors Post Fiji and Twisties and to our minor sponsors Crest Chicken, Stayin Alive Fiji and Sky Technologies as without them we would not have been able to grow. “Furthermore to the Australian Government and the Australian people for funding our Junior Development Programs.
His advice to youngsters and upcoming interested basketball players are: “Stay true to your training as hard work always pays off. Love your parents, trust god and believe in yourself. If you believe that you can then you will achieve it but if you believe you can't then it will come true.
Lai Puamau's playing career:
I have been representing the country as player since 2001.
2001: Oceania Men's and Women's Basketball Championship - Suva, Fiji - Silver Medal
2002: BYU Asia Pacific Tournament - Hawaii - Silver medal
2003: National Men's Basketball Men's Team tour of Australia - Undefeated
South Pacific Games, Suva, Fiji - Fourth Place
2004: FIBA Oceania U20 Youth Tournament - Coffs Harbor, Australia - Fourth Place
2005: Mini- South Pacific Games - Bronze medal
2007: South Pacific Games - Gold Medal
2008: FIBA Oceania U20 Youth Tournament, Guam - Head Coach
2009: BYU Asia Pacific Tournament - Hawaii
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