Basketball For Good is a movement that utilises basketball to create positive change in communities globally with Oceania leading the way. Within our region, various programs were implemented, such as Hoops for Health in Papua New Guinea and Mum’s A Hero promoting healthy lifestyles, gender equality, youth development, and community engagement.
The Australian Defence Force recently partnered with Basketball PNG and FIBA to coordinate coaching and referee workshops in Port Moresby and Madang with great success.
Ahead of the Pacific Games and FIBA U17 Oceania Championships, the Marty Handson Scholarship Program has been coordinated with the aim of upskilling coaches for events. Over 20 participants joined the first online education session facilitated by Rob Coulter and Nathan Cooper-Brown from Australia. Marlene Lumabi from the Northern Mariana Islands and Siale Bain-Vete from Tonga were selected as the scholarship recipients following the conclusion of the program.
In Tahiti, the community have welcomed two brand new 3×3 courts at a local school that will no doubt inspire the next generation of basketballers in the region.
David Reid has been elected as the new President of FIBA Oceania for the 2023-2027 term, becoming the first elected member of the FIBA Central Board. The Zone Assembly also elected new board members and discussed plans for basketball development in the region, aiming to increase participation and improve the capabilities of National Federations.
A FIBA PLUS Fundamentals workshop was held on the Gold Coast, Australia, empowering national federations with interactive seminars on various aspects of basketball development. The program aims to provide resources and support for sustainable growth in areas such as governance, grassroots basketball, and 3×3 basketball.
The Pacific Games Basketball schedules have been released to mark 150 days until the start of the games. The tournament will feature eight men’s and eight women’s teams, including countries competing for a Gold Medal and a chance to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup Men’s and Women’s Qualifiers. The Solomon Islands, hosts of the event, are training technical officials for 3×3 basketball which makes its first appearance in the competition.
The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup was held in Sydney, Australia with the host country earning a bronze medal with New Zealand finishing fourth. The Australian Women’s Under 16 team won a third consecutive FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship with New Zealand finishing third and Samoa seventh. Meanwhile the U16 women from Guam competed in Division B for the first time.
