VANUATU (FIBA OCEANIA) - Vanuatu Basketball Federation (VBF) confirmed that their Pikinini Hoops Program will return for its second year in 2019.

Pikinini Hoops is a mini-basketball program for children aged 7 to 11 years old. The basketball clinic was launched last year to help develop the grassroots level of basketball in the country.

"The idea is to give opportunities to kids to play basketball once a week. They will have access to physical activity, and we intend to make them learn that sport should be part in their daily healthy lifestyle," said VBF National Basketball Development Officer Sacha Duthu.

The program will resume on February 20 with 1-hour sessions each for the Under-9 and Under-11 age brackets.

"Pikinini will be a once a week program, last year we planned to have a 6-week camp, and then extended it until the end of the year," Duthu shared.

The rapid growth of basketball in Vanuatu highlighted by their impressive climb in the FIBA 3x3 world ranking to as high as 50th is a clear indication of the growing popularity of basketball.

VBF is banking on the grassroots level to help develop and popularize the sport in the island nation.

"The core idea of the project is to create a fun, playful environment for kids that want to discover the practice of basketball. It is part of our development structure to have a mini-basketball program," said Duthu.

For more information please visit: https://www.vanuatubasketball.com

FIBA