PNG looking forward to hosting basketball championships

PAPUA New Guinea is looking forward to hosting the Fiba U15 Oceania Championships in Port Moresby for the first time.
Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) executive officer Stephen Damien said Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Samoa, Fiji and PNG would be competing at the championships from Dec 2-9, showcasing new talent in the region.
“This is a unique and great opportunity for BFPNG to give our young athletes some exposure to international competition,” Damien said.
“We hope the competition will build our experience and also encourage more participation in communities around the country.
“PNG will hold its U15 national championships in July, where we will select players for the December event.
“BFPNG has started its community outreach programme in Port Moresby and Alotau to inform clubs and associations to start preparing for July.
“Next month, we will move to Lae, Goroka, Kerema, Buka and Kokopo with our clinics and information drive.
“We thank Fiba and the Australian government for funding this initiative.
“We thank Fiba for giving the right to BFPNG to host the U15 Oceania Championships, and the PNG Sports Foundation for supporting us.”
Meanwhile, BFPNG executive Karo Lelai said David Crocker and Amanda Jenkins of Fiba Oceania were in Port Moresby last week to firm up plans and preparations for the December championships.
Lelai said this was a major undertaking by BFPNG.