Sisters Brianna (left) and Lesina Manuatu. Photo: Andrew Johnston
QUEANBEYAN Yowies guard Lesina Manuatu will follow in the footsteps of her older sister Brianna later this year when she attempts to make her mark in the American college system.
The 19-year-old is currently in discussions with a number of interested universities and looks set to fly out to the States at the completion of Queanbeyan’s State League season in August.
“There are a few schools that I’ve been speaking to but I’m just waiting to hear back from a couple of coaches at the moment,” Lesina said. “It will depend on where offers the best opportunities for me in terms of playing and studying but I’m definitely keen to go.
“I know my sister really enjoyed her time over there so I’d like to do the same thing she did. It’s a good opportunity to keep playing after the Yowies season finishes as well.”
Lesina’s sister and Yowies teammate Brianna has previously played for Oklahoma State University and will return to America later this year to take up her playing spot with the University of Michigan.
Lesina joined the Yowies this season from the ACT under-20s program after playing under former Queanbeyan coach Nathan Arousi at this year’s National Championships in Canberra.
Brianna is also currently on the Yowies roster having recently moving back to Canberra from New Zealand. The 21-year-old had previously been playing with Waikato in New Zealand’s top national competition.
Interestingly, this season’s campaign with Queanbeyan marks the first time the talented sisters have ever played together.
“We’ve played against each other a few times but never on the same team before,” Brianna said. “We have very different playing styles but we seem to work well together most of the time.
“She a lot more composed than me and probably a bit smarter on the court, I’m a little bit more erratic,” added Lesina.
Brianna meanwhile, said she is fully recovered from the ankle injury that saw her sidelined for the entire 2011 season.
The former Wests and Weston Creek Dodgers junior broke her ankle playing social basketball last year and has since been studying online with the University of Michigan.
But she said she was now looking forward to returning to the States and getting back on court for the remaining two years of her tenure.
“It’s definitely different over there and I don’t know if I could live there full time but I really enjoy it,” she said. “I’ve got another two years [of university] and then I’ll be looking to move overseas and play professionally.”