Gallery: Twilight Basketball beacon brightens PNG's darkest streets

Growing up, Moi Muri's world was ruled by raskols.

Murder and mayhem are the trademarks of these merciless street gangs and he was lucky to escape with his life. Many others didn't.

Moi and his wife Joyce are still grieving the loss of their youngest son, Bomai, a teenage basketball star killed in a car-jacking gone wrong. "I've seen many things," he says.

Some I want to forget. I sometimes got involved. It was right in my face."

Steve Knight has also seen things, but from a vastly different perspective, as an Australian Federal Police officer serving in East Timor, the Solomon Islands and PNG.

The pair share a common faith - the hope of hoops.

"Kaugere is one place in the day and another place in the night," Moi says, the PNG Under 15 women's coach soaking up the morning sun as people of all ages play on the dusty asphalt court in the centre of the village.

"There's temptation here." After dark, layups and long bombs are replaced by drinking, drugs, rape and extreme, often-fatal violence.

In contrast to Kaugere's gritty streets and alleyways, just four kilometres away stands the grand Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre.

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This story was produced by ABC International Development as part of the Pacific Sports Partnerships funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.