SUVA (Fiji) – Basketball Fiji says the trust and backing given to it by the 22 other Oceania nations is the start of big things to come for the sport in our part of the world.

Basketball Fiji’s president, Mr. Ioane Naivalurua was elected on the FIBA Oceania Board, a feat that Federation will be using to grow the game.

Mr. Naivalurua was elected during the FIBA Oceania’s Zone Assembly hosted in Gold Coast, Australia on Saturday 6 May. In attendance was FIBA President Hamane Niang, who graced the event with other senior members of the world basketball governing body.

Marshalling the region’s federations, FIBA Oceania Executive Director, Amanda Jenkins said, “It feels good to be reunited for the first time since 2019, discussing face-to-face and making up for the lost time. It has been a challenging time for everyone but I am glad we could do it again. A new chapter begins and we are looking forward to it.”

The event was also an opportunity to review and discuss the 2019-2023 FIBA Oceania Assembly Report which was presented to the congress.

Additionally, amongst other items on the agenda was the election of the new FIBA Oceania President and Board. Newly elected President, David Reid will serve in FIBA’s upcoming 2023-2027 cycle alongside five elected board members. They are:

• John Carey (Australia)
• Megan Compain (New Zealand)
• Jubilee Kuartei (Palau)
• Frank Cruz (Guam)
• Ioane Naivalurua (Fiji)

The appointment of Mr. Naivalurua, reflects the region’s support and faith in his abilities and experience to contribute positively to the growth of the sport in the region.

Mr. Naivalurua says “This appointment has been possible through the other twenty-two Federations in the region, to whom I am grateful for. Strategically, we now have the opportunity to dialogue, engage and seek further support in the area of sports development.”

“As a Federation, we are pleased that we now have a voice and seat at the regional level. There are eight pillars, three of which are our immediate focus, which is to improve and strengthen the functions of the Federation, increase women’s participation and presence at all levels of the sport and grow the basketball footprint in Fiji.” he says.

To facilitate the growth of basketball in the country, Mr. Naivalurua highlighted some of the immediate goals, saying “First is to win gold at the Pacific games, second is to internally seek more corporate partners, third is to improve our key stakeholders engagement to help propel us forward to sustain our operational goal, fourth is to contribute effectively in the shaping and growth of the younger generation and fifth is to transform the Federation from being a grant dependent organization to commercially run organization.”

Basketball Fiji Media