Development Staff

National Federation Development Staff

Since 1999, FIBA’s regional office in Oceania has provided financial, technical, and resource support for National Federations throughout the Pacific. This support comes in various forms including partnerships with Governments, National Olympic Committees, Sponsors, National Sport Federations and is targeted at the development and delivery of the sport.

The Development staff have been engaged in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Timor Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The objective is to develop and promote basketball and ultimately to increase the number of people playing in their country.

Key tasks include:

 Coordinate the delivery of programs in schools and community-based sporting environments
 Improve participation in local competition
 Collaborate with Partner organisations to promote healthy lifestyle
 Increase Community awareness of gender equality and female empowerment
 Engage and increase the participation of women and girls in basketball through the delivery of targeted activities
 Ensure Child Safeguarding in all operations by implementing the FIBA Child and Vulnerable Protection Policy.
 Provide an environment that is safe, inclusive, and accessible for all participants
 Maintain participation and competition databases using FIBA programs
 Provide regular content contributions for inclusion in FIBA and BFPNG Communications plans
 Support Coaching and Referee coordinators to assist with the Technical sustainability of the sport
 Assist the development of competition opportunities that will be managed and operated by affiliated Associations
 Work in consultation with the Federation Board to ensure good governance
 Preparation and administration of the program reports for all stakeholders (including monthly participation and workforce capacity reports); and
 Undertake financial administrative duties (including collecting & reporting of receipts and stock control).

Through the success of the Basketball for Good Programs, several key positions have been implemented in member federations to help manage its growth.
Current Development Staff Profiles

Fiji: Laisiasa Puamau (Chief Operations Officer)

Lai began his career as NBDO in 2009. In 2014, Lai was elevated to the position of Chief Operations Officer (C.O.O) for Basketball Fiji (BF).

After the successful implementation of the Hoops for Health Program in 2014, Lai continues to improve basketball in Fiji with the Federations goal to become one of the powerhouse nations in the region.

He manages his small team to also deliver the Basketball for Good Program such as Bula Hoops and Mum’s a Hero and through these programs using basketball as a tool for social change, the Federation has increased their participation numbers considerably and are providing not only opportunities for people to play basketball but at the same time are helping to make healthier more contributing citizens.

Lai has a wealth of coaching and playing experience. He represented Fiji in the national team for nine years – including winning a gold medal at the 2007 South Pacific Games. He has won Gold and Silver in the 2015 and 2019 Pacific Games, as head coach, which has earned them entry into Division B of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in 2017 and in 2021. Recently he led the Women’s National team winning a gold medal at the 2022 Melanesian Cup, which has qualified them entry into the 2023 Pacific Games.

Fiji: William Peter (Hoops for Health Sports Administrator)

William began his role as the Sports Administrator in 2020. Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer and the Executive Committee he manages the Basketball for Good programs and its coaches.

In his role, William has helped grow the Bula Hoops program with all programs of having a social messaging component. This enables the Federation to deliver programs that are safe, friendly and in a fun environment whilst also providing health messaging to help build healthier and safer communities.

William is a WABC Level 1 coach and has recently participated in a number of online development programs such as Basketball Australia’s Emerging Coaches Program and the USA Elite Coaching, Leadership & Athlete Development Program.

William coached the Fiji U15 Boys team to the U15 Oceania Championships in PNG in 2018 and the Fiji U18 Boys Select Team to the Albury Country Cup in Australia in 2020. He recently served as the Men's National Team Assistant Coach that won bronze at the 2022 Melanesia Cup in Fiji.

Fiji: Sakenasa Raisevu (National Basketball Development Officer)

Papua New Guinea: Miskus E. Lapan (Chief Executive)

Miskus was appointed Executive Officer of Basketball Federation Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) in 2022.
He manages a small team to deliver the Basketball for Good Program such as Hoops For Health, Twilight Basketball, Pikinini Hoops and Mum’s A Hero / Mi Pikinini Meri. The programs use basketball as a tool for social change.
BFPNG has increased participation through good governance and program delivery. The key focus in all programs is to provide a safe, friendly, fun and inclusive environment.

Papua New Guinea: Jordan Sere (Hoops for Health Sports Administrator)

Jordan began his role as the Sports Administrator in 2019 to help drive the Hoops for Health Program in PNG. The priority for the Federation is to ensure that basketball became a part of the regular sporting calendar in PNG.

He works closely with the Executive Officer and the Executive Committee and is tasked to train and educate coaches and to help deliver the Basketball for Good programs throughout the country.

The Basketball for Good program uses basketball as a tool for social change therefore not only are PNG Basketball trying to increase the number of people playing basketball, but they are also providing a safe, friendly, fun environment whilst also providing health messaging to help build healthier communities.

Samoa: Sarah-Lee Malaesilia (Sports Administrator)

Sarah began her role as the Sports Administrator for the Samoa Basketball Association (SNBA) in February 2018.

The priority for the Federation was to have someone working full time to help drive the Hoops for Health Program and other Federation activities.

The Federation’s priority is to ensure that basketball became a part of the regular sporting calendar in Samoa which took another boost with the success of the 2019 Pacific Games which was held in Apia in July.

In conjunction with SNBA’s Executive Committee, she is tasked to prepare an annual calendar of basketball activities that include men’s, women’s, junior teams, masters/veterans’ competitions and annual tournaments for both 5on5 and 3x3 basketball and she managers the Basketball for Good programs throughout the country.

Tahiti: Arii Meuel (National Basketball Development Officer)

Arii moved back to his homeland Tahiti after spending several years playing professional basketball in France. He was appointed as NBDO in 2018 and has hit the ground running by creating a program with support from the Tahiti Basketball Federation to be delivered in the schools.

With his experience and knowledge, he is invested in continuing in the growth of the 5on5 games and having more people playing but he will also be focusing on developing 3x3. With a smaller population and lack of facilities, he believes Tahiti could increase its 3x3 ranking and be competitive in the region.

He also sees an opportunity to use basketball as a tool to provide a safe, friendly, fun environment for targeted groups providing health messaging to help build healthier communities.

Arii continues to be a member of the Tahiti National Basketball team that won a bronze medal at the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa which is a great achievement, and they will now participate in the Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers in 2021/2022.