PORT MORESBY – The FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup has been officially launched to the public today during an event in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) hosted stakeholders, government officials and media representatives at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre where the event will take place later this year.

This event was the first opportunity for the FIBA Melanesian Basketball Cup logo public unveiling. More than fifty dignitaries, guests and media were on hand to witness the tournament’s launch and listen to speakers, including FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, David Crocker.

The first ever FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup logo

“FIBA is extremely excited to be hosting the first ever FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup in Papua New Guinea (PNG),” Mr Crocker said. “PNG is a very passionate sporting nation and basketball is very much on the rise in country.”

“We hope all sports fans come out and recreate the amazing atmosphere we saw here during the 2015 Pacific Games.”

“There has been an enormous amount of work done by the federation to prepare for hosting this event, so it’s fantastic seeing so many people offering their support at this launch.”

BFPNG Executive Officer Mr Joel Khalu spoke of the benefits of hosting the FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup.

“By hosting this event, not only does it further solidify FIBA’s confidence in BFPNG and our ability to run major international events, it also presents us with a tremendous opportunity to replicate the unbelievable atmosphere we all experienced here during the 2015 Pacific Games,” Khalu said.

“To recreate that unique atmosphere, we needed a suitable venue and we are very proud to be partnering with the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation Venue Management Team and National Sports Trust Limited to host the tournament at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre, a wonderful multi-purpose facility.”

“I think we are going to see an even higher standard of play than what we witnessed at the Pacific Games, which is something fans of the sport here can really get pumped up about.”

“The FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup is not just about the players and the fans though, it’s about the community and the benefits it will bring the region through sports tourism.”

“It provides a platform to proudly display PNG culture and hosting this event in Port Moresby will give an estimated injection of almost one-million kina to the local economy, a much-needed boost in these tough financial times.”

The FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup is one of the three new Oceania sub-zone competitions comprising of the Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia regions. Papua New Guinea will play host to Fiji, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands from the 26th of September to the 1st of October, 2017.

The top three (3) teams from this event will progress to the 2019 Pacific Games.

FIBA