SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas) - The Zone Board of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas met for the third time in the 2014-2019 period to discuss various items relevant to the agenda and with the focus on the new competition system that will continue its qualification process through the Centrobasket and South American tournaments in the summer.

The meeting was attended by Zone Board members Ricardo Siri (ARG), Carlos Nunes (BRA), Modesto Robledo (MEX), Marcelo Bedoya (PAR), Carlos Beltran (PUR), Kim Bohuny (USA), Sabrina Mitchell (VIN), Co-Opted Member Eduardo Bazzi (ARG) and observer Rafael Uribe (DOM), along with Caribbean Basketball Confederation President Glyne Clark (BAR), Central American Basketball Confederation President Yamil Bukele (ESA), FIBA Americas Secretary General Emeritus Jenaro Marchand, FIBA Americas Executive Director Alberto Garcia, FIBA Americas Treasurer Jim Tooley (USA), FIBA Americas 2nd Vice President Gerasime Bozikis (BRA), FIBA Americas 1st Vice President Michele O’keefe (CAN) and FIBA Americas President Usie Richards.

The Zone Board went over the activities slated for 2016-17 in the region, 2016 Budget and detailed the Selection Process for the host of the different events on schedule for the rest of the calendar year. The New Zone Core Regulations, Americas Complimentary Regulations and the Sub-Zones and Sub-Sub Zones Complimentary Regulations were also discussed in detail.

Reports on the Club and League, Development, Competitions, Medical, Youth and Finance Committees meetings that were held the past week in the Americas regional office were presented to the attendees. Ricardo Vairo (URU) was announced as a new member of the Club and League Competitions Committee.

A qualification process to the men’s basketball tournaments at the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games and 2019 Pan American Games was approved.

The best 7 teams from the 2017 FIBA Americup and 2017 FIBA Americas Women’s Championship will qualify to the 2019 Pan American respectively; while the best 7 teams from the 2016 Centrobasket Championship will qualify to the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games. The host country was awarded automatic qualification to the both events.

In turn, the status of the bidding process for the 2017 FIBA Americup was presented in full detail along with the up-to-date information regarding the New Competition System that will tip-off in 2017.

Finally, the National Federation and Sports Development Department presented their assessment progress, having visited 18 national federations that include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Virgin Islands.

"This has been a truly historic week for our region. Through the different Committee meetings, we have been able to jumpstart the conversation around the New Competition System and what needs to be done to have our national federations fully prepared for the challenges and the revolutionary aspects that it will bring to our sport," said FIBA Americas President Usie Richards.

"Over 40 of the most esteemed basketball minds in the different areas relevant to our sport came together in a seven-day period culminating in this Zone Board meeting. Our focus 100 percent is on carrying out FIBA's mission throughout the Americas and I am confident that this week has been a big step towards achieving that goal." 

FIBA