PNG to resume training for U15 championships

Sports

By JACK AMI
Papua New Guinea’s preparations for next month’s Fiba U15 Oceania Championships have been disrupted due to the Apec summits in Port Moresby, according to an official.
Basketball Federation of PNG president Nick Daroa said the Port Moresby-based players were doing their own training at venues around the city.
Daroa said women’s national coach Moi Muri was called in to assist U15s coach Ricky Ani, so training for boys and girls national sides was expected to resume soon at the Port Moresby International School.
Daroa said the players from other centres like Lae and Alotau would make their way to Port Moresby after the summits.
“The reason Muri is in the picture even though he is the senior women’s coach, is because his international experience will really help our young boys and girls,” Daroa said.
“We would also like our women to be also involved in taking care of their teams.
“So we looked at current internationals Maka Muri and Betty Angula, who are likely to take over the reins from coach Muri in the future.
“Our road map is very long. We have the Fiba U17 Oceania Championships in New Caledonia in August next year, which will be straight after the Pacific Games in Samoa in June.”
Daroa said preparations for the U17 championships were on track.
“We really need to have a lot of exposure for the national sides domestically and abroad,” he said.
“We’re focussing on the juniors now, with preparations moving forward.
“We did the ticketing launch yesterday (Monday).
Daroa said EMTV would assist in broadcasting the championships.
“The championships will be live-streamed in Australia and other Pacific nations.
“Post PNG have also come on board, so we are grateful to them.
“They’ll help in offsetting some costs, so that will go a long way in helping us. Fiba is also putting K90,000-K100,000 towards the championships.
“We are in safe hands and the competition will still go ahead. The venue is there.
“What will happen is that as soon as the Apec summits are over, the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre is freed to us.
“Basketball will go in first to take control of the venue and set it up for the competition to run from Dec 4-8.”