The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) has announced its senior national squads that will commence preparations for the FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup in September.
The 23-player women’s squad and 25-player men’s squad were named on Saturday night after the grand final of the BFPNG National Championships. Both squads include athletes based in-country and overseas.
The women’s squad is headlined by 2015 Pacific Games standouts Betty Angula, Marca Muri and Mary Elavo Jnr, while 2016 PNG under 18 national team captain Normalisa Dobunaba also received a call-up to the senior level.
The men’s squad includes Wright brothers Liam and Lloyd, Australian-based players Marty Leahy and Aron Farmer, along with local talents Apia Muri, Sibona Kala and Gabriel Elavo.
Joe Elavo earned a recall to the national squad following his performance in the national championships, while 16-year-old rising star Coni Muri was also named in the group.
Squad members based in Port Moresby will commence training sessions next week, before a final selection camp will be held over a weekend in August.
At the final selection camp, players based regionally and overseas will travel to the nation’s capital, joining the Port Moresby contingent in vying for one of the twelve available positions in the final teams that will compete in the FIBA Melanesia Cup from September 27 to 30 in Port Moresby.
2017 BFPNG Women’s National Squad:
NCDBL
Betty Wong
Elina Yala
Lydia Gotuno
Quinea Komane
POMWBL #1
Emily Koivi
Marrina Boino
Mary Elavo Jnr.
Normalisa Dobunaba
Rosa Kairi
Mary Cindy Elavo
POMWBL #2
Betty Angula
Svetlana Rupa
Marca Muri
Nester Sape
LAE
Erica Amos
Josie Sam
Serah Yawasing
Vhasty Jamsop
Vivian Gawac
DARU
Gimai Kebei
KAVIENG
Vanessa Torea
OVERSEAS
Megan Green
Penninah Javapro
Head Coach: Moi Muri
First Assistant Coach: Eddie Salazar
Second Assistant Coach: Janet Vekwari
Team Manager: Lewa Hani
Assistant Team Manager: Martha Aaron
2017 BFPNG Men’s National Squad:
NCDBL
Anderson Hewe
Coni Muri
PMBL #1
Apia Muri
Charles Parapa
Gabriel Elavo
Greg Travertz
Moses Lune
Purari Muri
Robert Kave
Sibona Kala
PMBL #2
Dia Muri
Emmanuel Parapa
James Banduru
Joe Elavo
Obert Muri
PMBL #3
Paiwa Baldwin
KAVIENG
Liam Wright
Lloyd Wright
LAE
Manasseh Moere
Ryan Tetemo
Russell Stafford
OVERSEAS
Aron Farmer
Christian Pang
Illiwa Baldwin
Marty Leahy
Head Coach: Joel Khalu
First Assistant Coach: Boyet Daroya
Second Assistant Coach: Patrick Ani
Third Assistant Coach: Morris Asiba
Team Manager: Dixon Omaro