The FIBA U-18 Oceania Championships is the highest level of youth basketball competition in the region.
Papua New Guinea will take part for the first time in this year’s U-18 tournament, in Suva, Fiji. It will be held from December 5 – 10.
Up to 15 participating teams, 7 Men’s and 8 Women’s teams will battle it out in the week-long tournament. The winner to earn a qualification spot to the FIBA U-19 World Championships 2017.
The tournament is expected to showcase some of the region’s best young basketball talent from Fiji, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa, and Guam.
For the first time ever, the new 2017 calendar will provide an opportunity for Oceania countries other than Australia and New Zealand, to have the potential to qualify for the World Cup and Olympic Games, not only in the region but including Asia.
Team PNG is only a week and a half away from leaving the country to attend the tournament.
For many of these young stars, traveling outside of PNG is an overwhelming experience for the first time, says the Basketball PNG CEO, Joel Khalu, in an interview last month.
Mr. Khalu says PNG Basketball Federation is ready to host the U-15 Oceania Championships in 2018, but national tournaments will be carried out for both the U-15 and U-17 to select top players for the two categories.
Meanwhile, senior players will start their training sessions early next year in preparations for the Melanesian Cup Tournament, with PNG to play host.
