Basketball’s first national development officer wins award

Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea’s (BFPNG) first national development officer Ronnie Mea, pictured, was awarded the Patricia Ramsay Award in recognition of his administrative skills and overall contribution to the sport’s growth in the country.
Mea, the regional manager of the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF), attended the Fiba Oceania assembly on May 4 on the Gold Coast, Australia, unaware of the honour about to be given to him.
“It was a pleasant surprise and an honour to be given this award, it’s a real honour,” Mea said.
“Looking back to the country that I came from and how we started some of the work that we’ve done, the fruits of our labour have come through with the assistance of Fiba. I want to thank all the people we worked with at Fiba.
“I want to also praise the administration which has done a great job in the last five years in helping the game grow in our country.”
Fiba Oceania executive director David Crocker lauded Mea for his contribution to the sport in the region.
“Ronnie has been one of the pillars of basketball in PNG,” Crocker said.
“In the last three competitions held in Port Moresby (2015 Pacific Games, 2017 Fiba Melanesia Cup, and 2018 Fiba U15 Oceania Championship), he helped us in organising the logistics of the competitions made sure we delivered successful events.
“He deserves this recognition because of his work, contribution and passion for his country and basketball.”
Mea was the first national basketball development officer when the programme was launched in 1999.
He answered the call when BFPNG executive Robert Kopaol approached him for the position.
“In 1999, Fiba Oceania started the national basketball development officer programme under Steve Smith and I was already part of BFPNG as a volunteer,” Mea said.
“Robert Kapaol, who was our president, then invited me to take a full-time role as the national basketball development officer and I accepted it.
“I worked from 1999 until 2014 but was on working on a voluntary basis in the last three years because of my position with the PNGSF.”
Mea said working as the development officer had its share of challenges but his passion for basketball pushed him to be dedicated to help grow the growth.
“It was a challenge to grow basketball but it was very fulfilling at the same time,” he said.
“The unfortunate part of the early years is having no financial support from sponsors and the government.
“We only get funding from the Olympic Solidarity through the PNG Olympic Committee.
“We had to rely on our own pockets to run programmes and workshops.
“But basketball has had a hugely positive effect on PNG.
“Because of basketball, we were able to connect settlements which have helped us develop basketball in our country.”
Ramsay is the wife of Fiba Oceania founder Al Ramsay.
In her honour, Fiba Oceania established the award to recognise and honour exceptional personalities in the administrate field.
“This awards means so much to me and my family,” Mea said.
“I dedicate this to my late wife, who passed away six months ago.
“I am sad to not share it with her but I believe that she is proud of everything we’ve accomplished so thank you for the honour, Fiba.”