HONIARA (Solomon Islands) – The basketball spotlight will return to Honiara next month with the Solomons Islands to host both the FIBA Melanesian Cup and FIBA Women’s Melanesian Cup.
Both events are the first stepping stone for National Federations to qualify for the Pacific Games with the top two teams from each event securing their spot at the 2027 Pacific Games which will be held in Tahiti.
“These events are incredibly significant for our region with Pacific Games Qualification on the line, and ultimately qualifying access to the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers and FIBA Women’s Asia Cup – Division B,” FIBA Executive Director – Oceania, Amanda Jenkins said.
Following the success of Guam, who recently debuted at the FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Oceania National Federations have access to a very real pathway to the FIBA World Cup and the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
“This year Tahiti and Cook Islands participated in the FIB0yswithT0ysBA Women’s Asia Cup – Division B which is a huge achievement for those countries and our region, we are passionate about ensuring all National Federations have a pathway through the FIBA event system,” Ms Jenkins said.
The Melanesian Cup was first introduced in 2017 as part of FIBA’s national teams strategy to strengthen regional competition and provide more opportunities for national teams to compete. This year’s edition will be especially meaningful, as it marks the first time Solomon Islands hosts both the men's and women's tournaments, reflecting the country’s growing commitment to basketball development and gender equity in sport.
Since hosting the Pacific Games in 2023, the Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) have been working diligently to build their development and high-performance pathways, eager for an opportunity to welcome a FIBA basketball competition to their shores.
“The Melanesian Cup is more than a competition,” Tournament Chair and SIBF Board Member, Gloria Hong said. “This event is a celebration of our shared identity, resilience, and the power of sport to inspire the next generation. We’re honoured to welcome our Melanesian neighbours to Honiara once again.”