Basketball

Lae resident Aaron, who was part of the team to the Pacific Games in Samoa this year, left PNG on September 14th for the US where she will be for a month.

She will spend three weeks in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Centre of the US Olympic Committee (USOC) followed by a weeklong coaching apprenticeship in Philadelphia before returning to Papua New Guinea.

She is on an Olympic Coaches Scholarship supported by US Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through Olympic Solidarity and Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee.

Mea, the current Regional Manager of the PNG Sports Foundation, attended the 2019 FIBA Oceania Assembly on 4^th May at the Voco Hotel unaware of the honor about to be given to him.

He said it was a pleasant surprise and an honor to be given this award. 

FIBA Oceania Executive Director David Crocker lauded Mea for his contribution to the sport in the region, saying he deserves this recognition because of his work, contribution, and passion for PNG Basketball.

Patricia Ramsay is the wife of FIBA Oceania Founder Al Ramsay.

Mea, the current Regional Manager of the PNG Sports Foundation, attended the 2019 FIBA Oceania Assembly on 4^th May at the Voco Hotel unaware of the honor about to be given to him.

He said it was a pleasant surprise and an honor to be given this award. 

FIBA Oceania Executive Director David Crocker lauded Mea for his contribution to the sport in the region, saying he deserves this recognition because of his work, contribution, and passion for PNG Basketball.

Patricia Ramsay is the wife of FIBA Oceania Founder Al Ramsay.

Technical Delegate Amanda Jenkins says the venue and team preparations are on track.

"It's exciting this is the time first we have qualifying pathways for this event. Any team who underestimates their opponent will be the ones who will not progress."

Jenkins is certain basketball teams from the Oceania region will be putting on their best performances to win a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

3x3 basketball will be the format played at the Games with confirmed participation from 11 countries.

“It will be a big task on hand for the team because it's a shorter version of the game being three on three.

“For the women’s, it will their first time to take part in 3x3 basketball while for the men it will be second. The team has done their medical checks and are looking positive, “said General Team Manager, Kevin Teme.

“The basketball challenge in Vanuatu will also be a World Cup qualifier so the team is pretty much eyeing that as a step forward.”

NCD Regional counting resumes

Counting has resumed for the National Capital District Regional seat.

http://www.looppng.com/elections/ncd-regional-counting-resumes-62378

Moresby South counting officially begins

Counting for the Moresby South seat has officially begun.

The BFPNG National Championships will provide competing players with the opportunity for selection to the BFPNG national representative squads for the 2017 FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup, which is being hosted by Papua New Guinea this coming September.

BFPNG Chief Executive Officer, Joel Khalu is confident that the six-day event will showcase the countries elite basketballers.

“We’ve had strong interest from affiliated associations based all over PNG.

This is claimed to mark the first time in which men have been allowed to witness a women's sporting event in person in the Islamic country.

The exhibition contest between Gaz and Koosha Sepehr also gave FIBA an opportunity to oversee an in which players wore hijabs before they consider a proposal permitting headgear to be worn during all matches next month.

The world governing body were represented by Lubomir Kotleba, an "advisor" to the secretary general. 

Joel Khalu says this is remarkable, after seeing the number of participants exceeding the expected number.  

The program attracted a lot of participants in just a week, due to it being open to people of all ages.

"We actually had a number of older players comment about the vibe and how they've never been part of a sporting environment like that in PNG before. That feedback was really great to hear," Khalu said.

"To have 319 participants in week one is a huge accomplishment.

Kevin Durant said playing for the United States in the Olympics was like "therapy" after signing with the Golden State Warriors last month. 

In a normal year, Durant would have nothing but months to be questioned about his decision with no basketball until camps open in late September.