Firm sponsors PMBL

Kutubu Security Services (KSS) has stepped in to assist the Papua New Guinea Men’s Basketball League (PMBL) with its preseason games.
The company has also supported youth programmes and other sporting codes in the country.
“We are confident in the new PMBL board of management headed by Vele Rupa and other club representatives,” KSS Southern Flames president Kevin Teme said.
“We are thankful to KSS for its support.”
Teme said despite KSS being the Flames’ sponsor, the company went out of its way to support the preseason, which now has prizes for the top-four placings.
“I urge other corporate citizens to come on board to support PMBL which is the only elite basketball competition in the country,” he said.
Teme said it was important that the interests of basketball were served.
“We have the soccer and rugby league competitions at the semi-professional level and they are moving forward,” he said.
“Other sports also need to follow the set up and for basketball, it is timely that PMBL has led the way and will continue to do so.”
KSS and Flames’ owner John Kapi Natto said he saw clubs already gearing up for the season.
KSS will hire the venue, cover technical officials’ match payments and provide prizes for the preseason finals.
Kapi Natto said having a semi-professional basketball competition would raise the standard of the game in the country.
“Look at what basketball as achieved,” he said.
“With PMBL in place and the level of the competition, PNG was able to win gold at the Melanesian Cup.
“The country also went on to win silver and bronze at the Pacific Mini Games in Port Vila, Vanuatu, last year.”
PMBL referees technical director Sleeve Mohu said it was the first time for PMBL to offer preseason prize.
“Kapi Natto is very passionate about sports in the country, as he once was a great sports man himself,” Mohu said.
“He played sports in his young days.
“He continues to support sports like basketball, rugby league, rugby union and soccer. We thank him for supporting us.”
Meanwhile, the undefeated Flames will face Chariots and Moni Plus will clash with Exodus. The winner of the two games face off in the grand final while the losers play for the third and fourth placings.