PIRAE (Tahiti) - The Tahiti Basketball Federation successfully staged the Island Challenge, a national competition that announced the empathic return of Tahiti to competitive basketball.

The competition was held in Pirae at the Fautura Gym. The Island Challenge featured teams from the surrounding islands including Bora Bora Anau, Raiatea, Mooreas, Moorea Tere Aito, and Maupiti.

"The Island Challenge is open to the Polynesian Islands of our archipelago. It is an event that is close to our hearts as it featured beautiful moments of meeting and exchanges with our friends from the islands," said Tournament Organizer, Teimiri Hunter.

"This event required long preparations for the islands to be able to participate because it is such a big thing," she added.

The competition featured a Men's division with 7 teams participating and with the U17 Women's team playing exhibition games against various women's club teams based in Tahiti. The Federation also included exhibition games for their U17 teams to prepare them for the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship set later this year in Samoa.

Hunter excitedly shared that the level of competition has improved exponentially over the years and that the Federation has identified potential players that can join their national team programs.

"During the tournament, we noticed certain good players and we have encouraged them to pursue their efforts in their clubs and have invited them to the events for the youth organized by the FTBB," she mentioned.

With the monumental return of the Island Challange, FTBB is not resting on their laurels and are planning the next stage of competitions in the upcoming months.

"We are already planning for competition in the next few months we have also been talking to a few schools for more programs. Another big thing for us is the emergence of 3x3 in the country," Hunter shared.

"3x3 today is very much part of all our tournaments and our championship during the whole season. Other projects will be put in place in the new season, the healthy situation permitting," she added.

The competition featured a one-day 3x3 competition to promote the sport in the country which has been gaining popularity in the last couple of years.

"The Federation would like to thank all the clubs from the islands and Tahiti but also the volunteers, the table officials, and all the people who contributed to the success of this event," Hunter excitedly shared.

"It was a great week of basketball and a pleasure for us, basketball is a really good way to bring people together and to share in spirit," she ended.

FIBA