With a slightly swollen ankle Kosrae’s point guard David Taulung begins not just this interview, but his Micronesian Games.

He’s becoming well regarded as not only a member of a possible gold medal team, but also a real possibility at being crowned the tournament MVP.

For Taulung it’s been an interrupted preparation to the 8th Micronesian Games - he fractured his ankle just four weeks ago.

“My doctor told me it’s going to heal in six to eight weeks, but this is the fourth week and I’m still trying to recover but, I’ll be alright,” he tells us.

But fractured ankle or not, there’s no way Taulung is going to stop his injury from team glory.

“It has definitely impacted my preparation, but I don’t want to use it as an excuse,” Taulung states emphatically.

For Taulung, although many see him as a great individual player, it’s about the team. There seems to be the expectation that Kosrae is well on the way to at least medalling, if not winning gold.

“This year, talent wise, everything is there. We have a good shot at it. But everyone knows Guam comes with a team. There’s always new faces. I’m anxious,” Taulung tells us, quietly confident but still expecting a challenge.

Although attending college in Hawaii, Taulung has returned home, starting his own basketball team Bang Bang Kosrae, as he settles back into life on the island.

Between his role in the Kosrae team and Bang Bang Kosrae, much of Taulung’s life involves an orange ball and a backboard.

Following the Micronesian Games, Taulung is travelling with his second team to Arizona in November, as he aims for his second competition gold within 6 months.

For Taulung only the best will do and fractured ankle or not, he and his team are hoping that they will reign supreme as basketball champions.

 

 

Alana Christensen

United Youth Media