FIBA Bulletin October 2009 President’s Report— their Opals Women's team who will represent by Barbara Wheadon the zone at the 2010 FIBA Women's Champion- I am sure all of you in some way ships. followed the reports about the devastation caused by the tsu- The Tall Blacks secured the top qualification spot nami in Samoa, American Samoa after their win over the Boomers. Congratula- and to a lesser extent in Tonga. tions New Zealand. With FIBA in- creasing the number of teams at the Men’s I am sure you will all join me in World Championships in Turkey in 2010, Oceania extending sympathies to those who lost loved now has two positions to fill, so both New Zea- Developing and ones and to those rebuilding their lives, our land and will have a team in Turkey. promoting basketball thoughts and prayers. across the Pacific The World Masters Games have just concluded

It is just fantastic that the human spirit is so resil- in , Australia, and the basketball competi-

ient and that as we watch from afar, aid relief, tion featured an amazing 201 teams from 12 donations of food and goods have poured in to countries across the world. Teams from Austra- help with the re building process. The FIBA Oce- lia, New Zealand, , USA, Russia, Puerto ania staff mounted an appeal within Australia and Rico, Estonia, Latvia, Canada, Lithuania, Hungary were overwhelmed by the support of various bas- and Azerbaijan contested the 8 day tournament,  Tsunami appeal ketball organisations and manufacturers. Alto- with age categories from 30 to 70+. gether over 1,000kg of goods, valued at approxi-  Landon Shield mately $80,000AUD has been collected by FIBA Congratulations to the Basketball Federations of Oceania. 500kg of goods have already been sent  Oceania Qualifications Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand who have to Samoa to help replenish basketball equipment received initiations via their National Olympic  ASOP grants in schools and communities. Committees to enter teams in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. It will be most exciting to see  Ralik Ratik Champs The past three months have again been busy for FIBA 33 basketball at the international level. basketballers across the zone with the Qualifica-  Tonga Rebuilding tion events for the FIBA Under 17s Boys and Girls Thank you to all our Federations, the many vol- Championships and the FIBA Men's and Women's unteers and workers who help develop the game  History in Vanuatu Championships. across the zone. Just looking at all the activities each of you are involved with in your own coun- Congratulations to for secur- try suggests we must be the busiest and most

ing positions for the Under 17 age groups and for productive zone in the world.

1st Youth Olympic Games—Singapore August 2010 The first-every Youth Olympic Games, conducted by the IOC for athletes ages 14 to 18 years of age, will be held 14th-26th August 2010 in Singapore and basketball has been included in the program. The Oceania team invited by the IOC to enter the basketball P.O. Box 174, Toormina competition are Australia women, New Zealand men and Vanuatu women. NSW, Australia 2452 Ph +61 2 6658 6110 Vanuatu have been offered a spot in Singapore through the IOC’s Universality program, Australia Fax +61 2 6658 6114 qualified as their women are placed in the top 4 FIBA rankings, and New Zealand qualified as one of FIBA’s nominated countries.

Email: [email protected] The IOC regulations for the YOG, to ensure the participation of as many countries as possible, means that one country may not have a men’s and women’s team in the basketball competition. Website: www.fibaoceania.com The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games will welcome some 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees who will compete in 26 sports. The basketball competition will be played as a 3-on-3 competition, known as FIBA 33, each team will comprise 4 players, 1 coach and 1 additional adult (manager of doctor). Players must be born 1st Jan 1993—31st December 1994, while coaches must not be more than 35 years of age. FIBA Oceania congratulates Vanuatu, Austra- lia and New Zealand on being invited to participate in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

We welcome stories from across the zone for the Bulletin. If you have some news from your club, school, association or federation, email it, and a photograph to Judy Smith at [email protected]

The Oceania Bulletin is an official publication of FIBA OCEANIA and is circulated throughout Oceania, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. To be added to the email distribution list, send your address to [email protected] Visit our website at www.fibaoceania.com for previous editions. Page 2 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

FIBA Oceania hits on winning formula: the Australians, thirty six to the New Zealanders and at the end of If the aim of a competition format is to create interest from the that period behind some rousing encouragement from the fans, players, the media and spectators, then the formula selected by the Tall Blacks held a 74 to 55 lead and the unsung Vukona was on FIBA Oceania for the 2009 Oceania Championships for Men and a game high 17 points. Women seems to have hit the spot. Remember the sums. New Zealand needed to win the second Previously the Championship has been played as a three-game se- game and by 8 points or more to claim the title of Oceania Cham- ries or a best-of-three-game series, but only in either Australia or pions. A nineteen point lead at the end of the third period – no New Zealand. For the 2009 edition, FIBA Oceania decided to play wonder the crowd was on an emotional high, which seemed to one game in New Zealand and one game in Australia and to apply drain the energy of the Australians. the same formula to the men’s and women’s championships. While New Zealanders like to beat the Australians, the Aussies It’s a quite dramatic format because there is always the possibility hate nothing more than losing to the Kiwis and they tried every- that one team would win a game in one country but when it came thing in the final quarter to turn the game around. They did man- time to play the second game overseas, the other side might pre- age to get the lead down to 16 halfway through the period, but vail. And of course we all know from experience that a home with a good lead and a history making victory in the air, the Tall crowd can be like a sixth player on the court when emotions are Blacks were not about to let this slip away. running high. When the final hooter sounded the Tall Blacks had inflicted a 22 In deciding on the new competition format, FIBA Oceania had to point defeat on the Australians and the stadium erupted in pande- think through what to do in the event that the series was tied with monium. Organisers had a difficult job to coral the teams in order each nation winning one game in the series. FIBA rules do not al- to make the presentation. The Australians wanted to slink away low for a drawn game, so we set up the competition so that we had into a corner and hide, the New Zealanders wanted to bask in the to achieve a result in each game. congratulations heaped on them in a stadium where no one left at the end of the game. Tall Blacks captain, held aloft Then, if at the end of the second game, each country had won a the Ramsay Shield at the end of the presentation, Wellington’s single game in the series, the winner would be decided by the ASB Stadium roared its approval and FIBA Oceania had confirma- country which scored the greatest number of points in both games tion that the new competition format was a resounding success. would win the series. The new formula could not have had a better debut than the 2009 Men’s Championship. Game 1: Sydney Olympic Park, Australia, August 23rd. Australia 84 (43) defeated New Zealand 77 (42) The first game was played in Sydney before about 2,500 fans and televised in both Australia and New Zealand. Australia won that Game 2: ASB Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand, August 25th. game 84 to 77 and the universe seemed to be in perfect order. New Zealand 100 (38) defeated Australia 78 (40) Except that New Zealand believed they had lost the game rather New Zealand win the 2009 Oceania Championships on aggregate than Australia having won, and the second leg of the series would be played in Wellington which had a history of being involved in points 177 to 162 and win the Ramsay Shield. upsets by the Kiwis over the Aussies.

The New Zealand Tall Blacks and Australian Boomers arrived in Wellington knowing that if Australia won the second game they would be Oceania Champions. On the other hand, if New Zealand wanted to be Champions they had to not only win the second game but win by eight points or more. This seemed a tall order after the result of game 1. But not to the Tall Blacks and not in the unpredictable game of basketball.

The crowd in Wellington is very parochial and New Zealanders like nothing in the world better than to win against the Australians. When the Tall Blacks went to the first quarter holding a 17 to 16 lead the Wellington basketball fans started to believe that the im- possible was possible and they certainly showed their support for the home town heroes.

Halfway through the second period the Kiwis extended to the lead to 4 points and importantly as well as contributions from captain Kirk Penney, , Benny Anthony and were finding the bottom of the net as was Mika Vukona, who in game one showed some promise, but tonight was on his way to a turn- around performance.

At the other end of the court, and were making solid contributions for the Aussies but the NZ defence was working anxiously to prevent Jo Ingles from repeating his game one dominance. At half time the Australian Boomers held a slender 40 to 38 lead.

The third quarter had to be seen to be believed. Fifteen points to Page 3 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Palau Basketball works on improving their National teams. The first meeting of the National men’s and Women’s squads was Tall Ferns yet to break the drought… held on 10th October at the High School Multi-purpose Hall. The No it’s not the El Nino/climate change drought which has meeting was opened by Vice President, Topps Sungino, who wel- been affecting much of Australia for approaching 10 comed the players and coaches and outlined the changes that the years, it’s the drought of victories by the Tall Ferns over PBF had adopted to improve the standard of basketball in Palau. Australia in an Oceania Championship.

The players were taken through a presentation by the National The 2009 competition formula for the FIBA Oceania Director of Coaching (NDC) that outlined the various areas of the Women’s Championship proved as popular with the me- program. The NDC stressed that the first 7 months of the 2009- dia and the spectators as the men’s two games, one in 2010 program for players was about development to bring the each country formula. We think it will be good for the standard of players to a higher level for future national teams. promotion of our sport.

The NDC outlined how the players would be evaluated through But since the start of the Oceania Championships for the whole program, both subjectively and objectively, and how Women in 1974, the Tall Ferns have yet to win a game these evaluations would determine their future selections in na- over the Opals. tional teams. Regrettably 2009 was not the history making year! The men’s and women’s program is identical. The players have started their strength program Two of the big talking points from this series were the thanks to the generosity of the emergence of Elizabeth Cambage to senior international Koror State Government who competition for the Opals. Make a note of that name, have given the players free use you’re sure to hear a lot of it in the future and in the New of the Koror State Gym from 5.15 – 6.30am 4 mornings per Zealand team the equally impressive, ‘never take a back- week, with 2 sessions allocated ward step’ performance of Antonia Edmondson for the to the women and 2 to the Tall Ferns.

men. The fitness component st will commence in late January, while on-court practice start in Game 1: Wellington, New Zealand, August 31 Australia 98 (45) defeated New Zealand 48 (25) February. In early May next year the National squads will be re- duced to 16 players who will then prepare for the Micronesian Game 2: , Australia, September 2nd Games. Australia 97 (53) defeated New Zealand 57 (27)

Funding for this Basketball Palau project came from the IOC’s ‘Development of National Coaching Structures’ program, applied for by PBF through the Palau National Olympic Committee.

Page 4 News From Around the Zone FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Tsunami help for Samoa, American Samoa News From New Zealand: and Tonga: Basketball New Zealand has ap- Following the recent devastating tsunami pointed Tim Hamilton as its new that hit Samoa, American Samoa and chief executive officer. He brings Tonga, there was disbelief across the Oce- experience in sports team manage- ania region, and prayers for the safety of ment and governance, having previ- our basketball friends. ously been North Harbour Netball CEO, Northland Rugby Union CEO and Wanganui Rugby CEO. The FIBA Oceania staff were quick to com- mence an appeal for basketball equipment NZ National Schools Championships: and clothing from organisations across 33 boys and 31 girls school representative teams participated in Australia. Secretary General Steve Smith was overwhelmed by the first and second division competitions of the 2009 NZ the donations provided by Basketball Australia, Coast2Coast Schools National Championships in October. Westlake High Sportswear, Canberra Basketball, RMA Sports Equipment, Bas- School took out the boys top division, with Mga Taiatea Whare- ketball , Basketball and the Gold kura taking our the second division, for small schools. Church Coast Blaze NBL team. All together, over 1,000kg of goods, val- College secured their third successive win in the top girls divi- ued at over $80,000AUD has been donated. The goods include sion, while Paeroa College took the second division honours. backboards, rings, and loads of brand new basketball clothing and uniforms. The Australian Navy assisted with the The two players named Tournament MVP’s are both already transport of almost 500kg of goods on HMAS Tobruk in October, National players, with Fiji’s Letava Whippy, who attends Church while other goods will be sent in November & December. College, and NZ Tall Black Rob Loe from Westlake High were announced tournament MVP’s. Guam Basketball sees a ‘change of culture’: The East Asian Basketball Tournament , played in Hong Kong, is NZ National Age Championships: an important event for Guam Basketball and on the eve of their The under 13 and under 15 National age Championships have participation in this year’s event, Guam Secretary General Tony also been held in New Zealand during October. Thompson has signalled a ‘change of culture’ taking place with their national teams. 64 teams from associations across New Zealand took part in the tournaments, with equal numbers of teams in boys and girls The women’s National team now has a committed training divisions. Waikato and Waitakere cemented their spots of hav- squad who are working hard under the direction of coach Joe ing the most successful junior teams in New Zealand, when they Taitano and manager Arlene Mad. The men’s team, under won 2 of the 4 gold medals each. Waikato won the under 15 coaches Sid Guzman and Vince Acfalle are maturing into a group boys and girls titles; while Waitakere took the gold medal wins who understand and respect each other, an attitude shift that in the under 13 boys and girls. should bring on-court results in Hong Kong.

Perpetual Trophy for Women’s Basketball inaugurated: ELECTRONIC During the 2009 Oceania Women’s Champion- SCOREBOARD ships it was announced that a perpetual trophy EXPERTS for the event would be instituted to match the Ramsay Shield now in place for Men’s Competi- PLAYER FOUL LIGHT DARK PLAYER FOUL tion. The Trophy will be named in honour of

Lorraine Landon from Australia. Lorraine has been F F O O U U a strong lifetime advocate of women’s basketball L L in Australia and internationally. She is presently the Chair of FIBA Women’s Commission and has attended the SUB SUB Athens and Beijing Olympics as a member of the FIBA Technical T/O PERIOD T/O Committee.

Lorraine has attended numerous Olympic Games as a team man- ager, technical official and administrator. Lorraine was the bas- BASKETBALL SCOREBOARDS ketball competition manager for the Sydney Olympic Basketball AUXILIARY DISPLAYS competition – a performance which FIBA saw fit to reward with SHOTCLOCKS & GAME TIMERS the FIBA Order of Merit, by the International Olympic Commit- PLAYER FOUL DISPLAYS tee with the IOC Olympic Rings and later with the IOC Women in Sport Award. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT US AT www.scoreboards.com.au At the announcement of the decision, Lorraine expressed her OR CONTACT US AT pride and appreciation at receiving this award and offered her QUESTEK AUSTRALIA services to work closely with FIBA Oceania in designing the 22 Brodie Street Rydalmere NSW Australia 2116 Women’s perpetual trophy which we hope in time will be con- Inside Australia Ph 02 9898 9500 Fax 02 9898 9400 tested with the same enthusiasm attaching to holding aloft the Outside Aust Ph +612 9898 9500 Fax +612 9898 9400 Ramsay Shield. Email [email protected] Page 5 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Meleane Moce Takes up USA Scholarship Australian Government assistance to Fiji, Former Fiji National junior and senior player, PNG and Marshall Islands: Meleane (Ofa) Moce has arrived safely in the Basketball Fiji, Basketball PNG and the USA to take up her 3 year scholarship at Kan- Majuro Cooperative School have been sas Community College. Ofa is undergoing an awarded sports grants by the Australian Associate Degree in Applied Science in Digital Government's Sports Outreach Program. Imaging Design. She lives in a duplex with a ASOP has been operating since 2006, with few other girls who play basketball. the goal to support sports based programs that contribute to social development. As the season is just ready to commence, the team is undertak- ing intense pre-season training, so at the moment, Ofa is spend- Basketball Fiji's successful application for $5,123AUD will be ing 1 to 2hrs in the gym each morning and 3 to 4hrs practice used to continue and expand the regional school-based bas- after lunch. According to the College website, Meleane will be ketball development program. Plans are underway to identify the tallest girl on the 14 player roster at 6’ 2”, but is one of and train part-time development officers in the Nadi, Suva and three overseas players. Meleane will join a girl from Latvia and Lautoka areas, who will go into schools to teach the Fiji junior another from Scotland. development program.

Meleane joins a lengthening list of Oceania players who have been able to use their basketball talents to secure university In PNG, NBDO Ronnie Mea reports that their grant of placements. Congratulations to Ofa, and we will be looking $4,350AUD will also be used for school basketball. In PNG the forward to seeing her game and academic results. plan is to establish a regional schools basketball development program, ensuring that trained development officers are able NZ Coach to Vanuatu to visit schools across the country during the year. During the 2009 Oceania Tournament in Saipan, New Zealand’s national men’s coach In Majuro, the Community school will resurface their outside Jeff Green, offered his expertise in court which is used heavily by students during school time, the FIBA Oceania Development Program. and by the community after school hours. The court is located in the main urban area of Majuro and will have the updated Secretary General Smith was quick to take 2010 FIBA court markings. up the generous offer from Jeff, and No- vember will see Jeff winging his way to Vanuatu for his first 2 ASOP grants are available through the Australian High Com- week visit. It is planned that Jeff will use this trip to assess the missions in each Pacific Island country, and FIBA Oceania en- current domestic and international basketball programs of VBF courages all Basketball Federation to make contact with the through meetings and on-court sessions. Jeff will set a number Australian High Commissions to discuss applications. of program in place, particularly player and coach development plans for the Vanuatu Women’s 33 team for the Youth Olym- pics and the Vanuatu men’s and women’s team for the 2010 Oceania Youth Tournament.

Jeff will return to Vanuatu early in 2010 to assess the progress that has been made under those plans, and to assist in further player and coach development.

AYAD Mark Seccombe Leaves Fiji

Mark, commonly known as Marika, is the Surfacing and Construction of Sporting Facilities Australian Youth Ambassador for Develop- Throughout the Pacific ment and has been attached to the federa- tion for a year, thanks to the support of Experts in all types of indoor and outdoor recreational surfaces for all sports including basketball, netball, tennis, FIBA Oceania and the Australian Govern- track and field, baseball. ment. Marika’s assistance has been invalu- able and he will be sincerely missed by everyone involved with We supply and install Tru-flex Acrylic and Synthetic Grass Tennis Netball and Basketball Courts and have an excellent basketball in Fiji. indoor shock absorbent gym/basketball floor. Marika was instrumental in the implementation of Basketball eg: Pulastic 2000

Fiji's development program. He was a driving force behind the We can meet all your recreation construction requirements inaugural Post Fiji Primary Schools Competition, the Junior including lighting, fencing, surfacing and base work on League and Special Schools Program. He was also of great assis- concrete or asphalt. Free construction brochures to complete your own base and save $000‘s. Apply for our brochures to: tance during the National Secondary Schools Championships.

The children at the Special Schools will always have Marika's William Mortlock Recreational Surfaces Pty Ltd face engraved in their hearts. The associations will remember 653 Pacific Highway, Killara (Sydney), Australia 2071 him as a stand out player during the National Championships Ph +61 2 9499 2100 Fax +61 2 9499 2896 where he was part of the victorious Shaq Attaq men’s team. Website: www.recsurf.com

Basketball Fiji would like to say a Big Vinaka Vaka Levu to Ma- Successfully completing projects throughout the Pacific and Asia rika for his valuable contribution at the federation and would region. We’ll come to you! like to wish him the very best on his journey. Page 6 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Marshall Island’s National Championships: First Oceania U-17 Championships gives hope for the future: Nearly 2,000 fans jammed the national gym- The Vince Hickey Basketball Stadium in Bris- nasium in Majuro to watch the championship bane, Australia played host to the inaugural of the Bank of Marshall Islands 10th Ralik FIBA Oceania Championships for U-17 Men Ratak Shootout Invitational Basketball Tour- and Women. The events were scheduled to nament in late September. allow Oceania to qualify teams for the inaugu- ral FIBA World Championships in these cate- The culmination of the two-week round-robin saw Kabin Meto gories which we played in 2010 in Germany down Kwajalein 86-78 in the men’s competition, while Majuro for the boys and France for the girls. defeated Mejit to win the women’s division, 59-49. In what proved to be an exciting and enthralling contest, Austra- The tournament, named after the two chains of islands in the lia secured a three games to zero victory in the Women’s Cham- country, was organized by the Marshall Islands Basketball Fed- pionship, but a very strong Australian women’s team was subject eration in partnership with the Ministry of Internal Affairs Sports to some tough competition in game two of the series from a New and Recreation Division. Zealand program clearly on the improve.

The teams competed for US$3,400 in cash prizes, trophies and The Men’s Championship went down to the wire in game 3 after bragging rights. Bank of Marshall Islands was the tournament’s the Australians had won the first game, the New Zealanders the major sponsor, providing the money prizes and other support. second game and looked like they had the ability to win game 3. The US Army donated trophies for the top three teams in the With New Zealand now participating consistently in a number of men’s and women’s brackets, as well as MVP and coach of the Championships in Australia and some competition opportunities tournament trophies. The Marshall Islands National Olympic for Youth and Seniors available in Oceania, a clear competition Committee, Marshall Islands Development Bank, Marshalls Pre- pathway has emerged to allow the Federation to develop the vention Group, the Women’s Athletic Club, and Majuro Council- talent on display in Brisbane to raise the international competi- woman Deborah Shoniber provided an additional US$600 in tiveness of the country. prizes to winning teams. Match results: Oceania Championship for U-17 Men The National Telecommunications Authority sponsored a Sony Game 1: Australia 74 (46) defeated New Zealand 45 (27) mobile phone giveaway three-point shooting contest at halftime Game 2: New Zealand 69 (30) defeated Australia 67 (33) of the championship game that proved to be a big crowd Game 3: Australia 65 (33) defeated New Zealand 55 (30) pleaser. Match Results: Oceania Championships for U-17 Women The week prior to the tournament, FIBA Zone Development Offi- Game 1: Australia 84 (43) defeated New Zealand 48 (25) cer Ryan Burns ran well-attended referee, coach and score table Game 2: Australia 68 (28) defeated New Zealand 54 (22) trainings to prepare people for the tournament. He stayed for the first part of the Shootout, evaluating referees and assisting Game 3: Australia 94 (40) defeated New Zealand 52 (26) score table management as play progressed.

Australian Basketballers win Indigenous awards: Olympians Danny Morseu and Rohanee Cox were both recog- nised for their outstanding sporting achievements at the 15th ‘Deadly’ Awards at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. The Deadly Awards showcase the strength, pride, talent and deter- mination of Australia’s Aboriginal and Islander peo- ple, with winners nominated and voted on by the indigenous community. Cox won the Female Sportsperson of the Year Award for the third year running, while Morseu received the prestigious Ella Award for his contribution to sport and was further honoured through his induction into the Deadly Academy Hall of Fame. Page 7 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Referees gain international opportunities: Development Manager Regan Kama in 2009 has been a year of opportunities for Oce- Tonga: ania FIBA International Referees. New Zealand’s FIBA Oceania’s Development Manager, Gavin Zimmerman gained his FIBA International Referee’s Li- Regan Kama, has just returned from her sec- cence in a clinic conducted by FIBA’s Lubo Kotleba earlier this ond visit to Tonga, where she is assisting year and was invited to officiate his first FIBA Championship in with the revival of basketball in Tonga, Brisbane in August. Likewise New Caledonia’s Malekalio thanks to the efforts of the Federation, the Fenuafanote who gained his licence this year in Saipan also had National Olympic Committee and keen volunteers. an international call up in Brisbane. Both of Regan’s visits were funded through TASANOC’s successful New Zealand’s Tim Brown had an opportunity to take part in the application for funds under the IOC’s “Development of National International Referee’s Exchange to Europe this year and Sports Structure Program”. The second follow-up visit allowed CNMI’s Gabriel White travelled to his first FIBA World Champi- Regan to assess the program TNBF had made since the July visit, onship as a FIBA International Referee – the FIBA U-19 Women and to assist with further development plans. in Thailand. White returned to Europe for his second year offici- ating at the FIBA European Junior Championships. There, as It was encouraging to note that 5 of the 6 actions listed in July had well as some quality games, he received extensive education been completed, with the 6th action now underway. This meant and evaluation to help him move up the ranks of international that during the second visit, Regan and the TNBA were able to fo- officials. cus on their 3 year strategic plan.

Palau’s Jubilee Kuratei made the jump from officiating a FIBA A number of goals were identified for the second visit, including; Oceania Junior Championship in 2008 to being the third official 1. Reinstate the NBDO program at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championships for Women in Can- 2. Review the Strategic Plan berra and Wellington. Complete a three year calendar, in line with the NOC funding 3. On the other side of the travel ledger we were extremely lucky 4. Revisit contacts made from previous visit to be able to bring Romas Brazauskas from Lithuania –one of 5. Complete a Level 0 Coaches Course the top five FIBA International Referees in the world, to officiate 6. Complete a Level 0 Referees Course at our Oceania Men’s Championships, where he also conducted 7. Compete a Scorebench Course a clinic for Referees. Apply for Olympic Solidarity Funding 8. With Australia and New Zealand both undertaking international tours ahead of the Oceania Championships, referees also had Goal one (above) was achieved, with the appointment of Loleini the chance for international travel as well. The message for up Ostling, to the position of National Basketball Development Officer and coming officials among our 21 federations is that there are for Tonga. Loleini will commence official duties at the end of Octo- plenty of opportunities for international representation as a ber, with funding for the position coming from FIBA Oceania and technical official if you don’t make the cut as a player. However TASANOC. Goals two, three and eight were achieved, with a 3 year to reach the top, you need to be dedicated, fit and prepared to strategic plan formulated, a 3 year calendar produced, and applica- work at improving your game. tions to various IOC World Programs.

2010 Youth Tournament Logo Released: Level 0 courses for coaching and refereeing were completed, the The logo for the 2010 FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament has been federation website was set up and volunteers trained in its use and released, and it is a stunning emblem that incorpo- meetings were conducted with the Education Department, Dept of rates a basketball with the symbolic nautilus shell, Sports and Youth, School Principals Association and the AYAD in- and a map of New Caledonia. The overall theme of country manager. the logo shows that New Caledonia is integrated into the basketball world, and that basketball is im- Regan believes that the TNBA have the ability and personnel to portant to the New Caledonian people. commit to their projects and programs, and believes that basket- ball can become a popular sport again in Tonga. FIBA Oceania The dates for the 2010 Youth Tournament have would like to thank the TNBA executive, TASANOC and the Tongan been confirmed as 30th October to 7th November, community for their interest, support and assistance in revitalising inclusive. With just 8 men’s and 8 women’s teams accepted into basketball in Tonga. the competition, preliminary interest via our survey has been received from Australia, Guam, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, Ameri- can Samoa, Northern Marianas, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanu- atu and host New Caledonia.

Australian Wheelies qualify for World Champs: Australia's men's wheelchair basketball team won gold at the IWBF Asia Oceania Championship with a 68-51 victory over Ja- pan. Undefeated through seven games, the Rollers now qualify for the 2010 IWBF World Championship in Birmingham, Eng- land. Page 8 FIBA Oceania Bulletin, October 2009

Australian National Leagues Commences: Local media groups were invited to the opening, while the The Australian men’s and womens’ national leagues have com- launch was broadcasted live through the popular radio station menced for the 2009/2010 season. The WNBL celebrates its FM107. 30th season this year, and with a number of Australian Opals returning to the league from Europe and the WNBA, the The official opening of the FIBA 33 was declared by the outgoing WNBL is stronger than ever. chairman of NOC Joe Bomal Carlo whose term ended the previ- ous night. The Women’s National Basketball League VBF was also honored to have the presence of the newly elected has named this week the Pink Ribbon President of VASANOC, Antoine Boudier, with the CEO Henry Round to raise awareness for the Cancer Tavoa and Freddie Marsden our sponsor to witness the opening. Council’s Pink Ribbon day. Each club in the WNBL will be involved in the initiative to Mr Marsden was also at the closing to present the trophies to raise awareness and funds for the fight Sia Raga 4, winners of the women’s competition, and Tupuji against breast cancer. Imere, in the men’s division.

Adelaide, Australian Institute of Vanuatu Basketball Federation would like to thank its sponsor, Sport, Bendigo, Bulleen, Canberra, Graphic Image, for providing the prizes for the tournament and Dandenong, Logan, Perth, Sydney Wan Smolbag Youth for providing the venue for the FIBA and Townsville make up the 10 33 launch. women’s WNBL teams, while Ade- laide, , Gold Coast, Mel- bourne, New Zealand, Perth, Townsville and Wollongong make up the 8 men’s NBL teams.

History Made in Vanuatu: Saturday 17 October will be marked in the history of Vanuatu Basketball as the birth of FIBA 33 in the country. The federa- tion decided to officially launch the event in the country after the decision of FIBA and the IOC to include the Vanuatu women’s team in the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore next year.

Vanuatu NOC and Government officials were invited to witness the opening of the event which was also marked with a full day FIBA 33 competition.