U15 c’ships set for tip off

The National Sports

By JACK AMI
FIBA Oceania competition manager Amanda Jenkins, pictured, is in Port Moresby to help run the Oceania Under-15 Championships from Dec 4-8.
Gold Coast-based Jenkins will be the tournament director for the inaugural championships at the Taurama Aquatic Centre.
Jenkins inspected the venue with Basketball Federation of PNG executive officer Steven Damien and technical manager Ronnie Mea yesterday and was impressed with the facilities.
Jenkins said the two top (winner and runners-up) teams (boys and girls) would qualify for the 2019 Asian U16 Championship in July.
“We have two pools in the men’s with Oceania’s top four countries in Pool A and the bottom three in Pool B so the lower ranked teams can have a chance to make the playoffs,” Jenkins said.
For the girls competition, after the round robin games, the teams play off for the gold (1 v 2), silver (3 v 4) and bronze medals (5 v 6).
“There is no change to the competition rules and matches will be played under full Fiba timing of four by 10 minute quarters,” Jenkins said.
“All the visiting teams and hosts will provide referees and a two-day clinic will be conducted at the Taurama Aquatic Centre and Shady Rest Hotel this weekend.
BFPNG executive officer Damien said the Apec materials and equipment were being moved from the venue and the Taurama Aquatic Centre would be ready to use by the end of the week.
Technical manager Mea said the championship was a good opportunity for our local referees to gain experience and confidence at a regional tournament.
Meanwhile, the selected PNG (boys and girls) players based in Port Moresby had returned to team training under coaches Patrick Ani (boys) and Moi Muri (girls) at the Taurama Aquatic Centre. Lae and Alotau players will join their teams on Friday.
U15 Boys – Pool A: Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Samoa; Pool B: PNG, Tonga, Fiji; U15 Girls – Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji.
Fixtures: Day 1 — Tues, Dec 4 – Boys – A Australia v Samoa (C2, 4pm), A New Zealand v Guam (C1, 5pm), B PNG v Tonga (C1, 7pm); Girls – Samoa v Australia (C1,1pm), New Zealand v Tonga (C2, 2pm), PNG v Fiji (C1, 3pm).