As we near the end of 2023, basketball action is heating up with events, youth programs, development opportunities, and Women in Basketball initiatives.
Pacific Games & FIBA Under 17 Oceania Championship
The Pacific Games are just around the corner, and participating Oceania basketball nations are ready for their opportunity to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers. The winning nations in both the men’s and women’s competitions will qualify, with men’s defending champions, Guam, striving for a three peat. The men from Tonga will be pushing for medal contention, with 2022 FIBA Melanesian Cup winners, New Caledonia shaping up nicely.
In the women’s competition, a youthful Samoa outfit are looking to capitalise on recent success in FIBA youth events, while the host nation, Solomon Islands, are confident that their preparations have placed them in strong position for success. Fijian, Letava Whippy-Kenny will be competing for her nation and family as they chase Pacific Games glory.
Following the basketball action, the Pacific Games 3×3 Basketball tournament will tip off with 22 federations from Oceania set to compete.
Papua New Guinea hosted the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship with Australia winning the men’s and women’s competitions. New Zealand finished second with both nations now qualified for the 2024 Asian U18 Championship. Strong All-Star Five teams were named following the championship with representatives from Samoa selected in the men’s and women’s teams. The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) put on a great event with the support of local volunteers, partners and also raised awareness for PinkTober during the Championship.
FIBA Youth Leaders
FIBA hosted a Youth Leaders Program with four online workshops and one in-person conference upskilling 16 participants from the region. The culmination of the program in Auckland, New Zealand provide participants with the opportunity to build on their leadership style and to learn about using basketball as a tool to empower their communities. Sylvania Amor from the Federated States of Micronesia, Brigida Pereira from Timor Lete, and Nathan Kioa from Tonga all took part an the program and will run Basketball for Good programs in their local communities.
Basketball for Good Development
Basketball for Good continues to drive community and cultural development with the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation shaping up to deliver a record number of programs. With the support of the Australian Defence Force, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands have all benefited from technical support and training, which will bolster their development capacity.
Women in Basketball
A core FIBA pillar, Women in Basketball initiatives are bouncing up in all Federations with ABC International Development Program, WINS (Women in News and Sport) teaming up with the BFPNG and FIBA to deliver media operations and commentary at the recent FIBA U17 Oceania Championship.
The legacy of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup continues to make waves with Basketball Australia announcing a new indigenous partnership to complement existing program, She Hoops.
For all the latest FIBA developments and news in Oceania, CLICK HERE.
