Daroa vows to continue passion for basketball

FORMER Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea executive officer Nick Daroa says he will continue his passion of serving the sport in an effort to help develop it across the country.
He started his journey with the federation in 2012 when he was appointed as president of the sport’s national governing body.
“I have worked my blood, sweat and tears for the federation for the last nine years and every single drop was worth it,” Daroa said.
In the last nine years he was associated with the federation, basketball has grown in leaps and bounds.
Some of the achievements include hosting the first Fiba Melanesia Cup, with PNG lifting the trophy as men’s and women’s champions of the inaugural tournament.
“We were proud to host an international tournament of that level,” Daroa said.
“It was what we needed at the time to further promote the game in the country.”
Asked what he was most proud of during his time with the federation, Daroa said Basketball for Good was a programme that had made a huge difference for many lives, including his.
“The introduction of Basketball for Good in 2016 was a great initiative involving men and women of all ages participating to enjoy and learn the values of discipline, respect and teamwork,” he said.
“The values must contribute to nation-building in terms of positive human character and lifestyle development.”
The Basketball for Good strategy introduced multiple programmes to the community, including Twilight Basketball, Hoops for Health, Mum’s a Hero and Pikinini Hoops.
The programmes focus on different aspects that include social and healthy messaging to promote the game with a purpose.
“Our programmes have made a difference to countless lives and there are a few things in life that make you feel more rewarding than seeing kids and women have confidence and self-belief,” Daroa said.
The executive officer’s history with basketball stretches before his time with federation.
He said he was the team manager of the Under-18 national teams that travelled to New Zealand and Guam in 2006 and 2008 and also the Arafura Games in 2009.
“I created a relationship with Joel Khalu and Cairns basketball,” Daroa said. “This was after the 2009 Arafura Games and, through that, we were also able to bring in Khalu to help the national team and our programmes when I took on the role as executive officer from 2015 to 2017.”

Despite pursuing other avenues, for now, he said his heart would always be with basketball.
“The board has asked me to assist as an adviser and I will continue to offer any help that I can to the federation, especially to the transition team of (new executive officer) Alu (Vegoa) and (Hoops for Health coordinator) Jordan (Sere),” Daroa said.
“I will always be available for basketball, it is a passion that will never die and I will continue to love it forever.” FORMER Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea executive officer Nick Daroa says he will continue his passion of serving the sport in an effort to help develop it across the country.
He started his journey with the federation in 2012 when he was appointed as president of the sport’s national governing body.
“I have worked my blood, sweat and tears for the federation for the last nine years and every single drop was worth it,” Daroa said.
In the last nine years he was associated with the federation, basketball has grown in leaps and bounds.
Some of the achievements include hosting the first Fiba Melanesia Cup, with PNG lifting the trophy as men’s and women’s champions of the inaugural tournament.
“We were proud to host an international tournament of that level,” Daroa said.
“It was what we needed at the time to further promote the game in the country.”
Asked what he was most proud of during his time with the federation, Daroa said Basketball for Good was a programme that had made a huge difference for many lives, including his.
“The introduction of Basketball for Good in 2016 was a great initiative involving men and women of all ages participating to enjoy and learn the values of discipline, respect and teamwork,” he said.
“The values must contribute to nation-building in terms of positive human character and lifestyle development.”
The Basketball for Good strategy introduced multiple programmes to the community, including Twilight Basketball, Hoops for Health, Mum’s a Hero and Pikinini Hoops.
The programmes focus on different aspects that include social and healthy messaging to promote the game with a purpose.
“Our programmes have made a difference to countless lives and there are a few things in life that make you feel more rewarding than seeing kids and women have confidence and self-belief,” Daroa said.

The executive officer’s history with basketball stretches before his time with federation.
He said he was the team manager of the Under-18 national teams that travelled to New Zealand and Guam in 2006 and 2008 and also the Arafura Games in 2009.
“I created a relationship with Joel Khalu and Cairns basketball,” Daroa said. “This was after the 2009 Arafura Games and, through that, we were also able to bring in Khalu to help the national team and our programmes when I took on the role as executive officer from 2015 to 2017.”
Despite pursuing other avenues, for now, he said his heart would always be with basketball.
“The board has asked me to assist as an adviser and I will continue to offer any help that I can to the federation, especially to the transition team of (new executive officer) Alu (Vegoa) and (Hoops for Health coordinator) Jordan (Sere),” Daroa said.
“I will always be available for basketball, it is a passion that will never die and I will continue to love it forever.” – Fiba