The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) successfully launched the FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup today at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre (TAIC) in Port Moresby.

A gathering of more than fifty dignitaries, guests and media were on hand to witness for the first time, the tournament’s unique new logo and listen to speakers, including FIBA Oceania Executive Director David Crocker, who made the trip from Australia to be in attendance.

“FIBA is extremely excited to be hosting the first ever FIBA Melanesia Cup in Papua New Guinea.” Mr. Crocker said. “[PNG] is a very passionate sporting nation and basketball is very much on the rise in country.”

“We hope all sports fans come out and recreate the amazing atmosphere we saw here during the 2015 Pacific Games.”

“There has been an enormous amount of work done by the federation to prepare for hosting this event, so it’s fantastic seeing so many people offering their support at the launch." 

BFPNG Chief Executive Officer Joel Khalu also reiterated the positive messages from FIBA, outlining the benefits the international showcase will bring to Papua New Guinea.

“By hosting this event, not only does it further solidify FIBA’s confidence in BFPNG and our ability to run major international events, it also presents us with a tremendous opportunity to generate the same unbelievable support we all experienced here during the 2015 Pacific Games,” Khalu said.

“To restore that unique environment, we needed a suitable venue and we are very proud to partnering with the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation Venue Management Team and National Sports Trust Limited to host the tournament at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre, a wonderful multi-purpose facility.”

“I think we are going to see an even higher standard of play than what we witnessed at the Pacific Games, which is something fans of the sport here can really get pumped up about.”

“The FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup is not just about the players and the fans though, it’s about the community and the benefits it will bring the region through sports tourism.”

“It provides a platform to proudly display PNG culture and hosting this event in Port Moresby will give an estimated injection of almost one-million kina to the local economy, a much-needed boost is these tough financial times.”

The FIBA Melanesia Basketball Cup will be held at the Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Centre from Wednesday, September 27 to Saturday, September 30.

For more information please contact BFPNG Chief Executive Officer Joel Khalu on khalujoel@gmail.com