PNG pulling out all the stops in preparation for Oceania U15 Championship
FIBA Oceania U15 Oceania Championship hosts Papua New Guinea will bring along Grant Wallace of Australia, to lead a series of coaching workshops in preparation for the tournament in December this year.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA -- FIBA Oceania U15 Oceania Championship host Papua New Guinea will bring along Grant Wallace of Australia, to lead a series of coaching workshops in preparation for the tournament in December this year.
Wallace, the Manager of Basketball Operations of Basketball Victoria in Australia will arrive on July 2-4 to help the coaching staff of the team and assist in the selection of the country's U15 representatives.
"I will be making the most out of my time there, I will spend quality time with the two coaches that I am mentoring and also take time to undertake a range of coaching education sessions with the provincial team coaches attending Port Moresby to coach in their Championships," said Wallace, also the current head coach of Diamond Valley in the South East Australian Basketball League.
"I believe they will also have a tryout for their U15 squad next week and I am keen to know the talent and level of the players trying out," he added.
Basketball Federation of Papau New Guinea's Executive Director, Stephen Damien is looking forward to Wallace's visit ahead of their national U15-squad selection.
"Coach Grant Wallace will come in on Tuesday for a coaching workshop. It is an exciting project for us because he will be having a session with our U15 national coaches," said Damien.
"He will also talk to provincial coaches so we are hoping that this workshop will help improve the skills of our coaches," he added.
FIBA Oceania Competitions Manager, Amanda Jenkins shared her enthusiasm with Papua New Guinea's commitment to prepare for the tournament that they are going to host later this year.
"We are very pleased with the way PNG has been laying out the groundwork for their U15 team's preparation this December. We hope they continue their commitment to the team and the tournament," said Jenkins.
Wallace with over 25 years of experience in coaching is eager to observe and understand the current state of coaching in the Melanesian state and support the country to the best of his knowledge.
"I look forward to finding out how the coaches in PNG are preparing for the tournament but from all my dealings with the coaches I am impressed so far. They seem talented and skilled already. I am here for any support or knoweledge that I can share with them," he said.