Port Moresby, PNG – The Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea have released their final 12 member squads (including 2 ghost players) for the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships that will be held in Port Moresby from the 4 - 8 December, 2018. A total of forty six U15 athletes were selected from the BFPNG National U15 Championships that were held in July, each vying for a spot on the Lagatoi’s Squad.

Under the new FIBA competition system, the top two placed teams at the U15 Oceania Championship will qualify for the Under 16 Asian Championships next year. In addition to this, the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea will play host to the first FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in the Region. This will be the youngest group to represent PNG and we are proud to having our basketballers wear the red, black and gold on home soil.

“We put together this team consisting of emerging talent with both domestic and overseas based players. Our core have been undergoing High Performance programs and we are looking to compete for a podium finish this December" said Men’s Head Coach Patrick Ani.

With the BFPNG National U17 Championships coming up, a large pool of the athletes that were selected from the U15 Nationals will be targeted for next year’s FIBA U17 Oceania Championships, which will be held in Noumea New Caledonia in August, 2019.

“I am sure that this campaign will set the benchmark for BFPNG to build and strengthen our foundations in junior basketball at the Oceania events and on the International stage." stated BFPNG President Nick Daroa.

Seven nations are expected to converge on the Nation’s Capital for the 2018 FIBA U15 Oceania Championships, the pool matches are slated for December 4-6 with the semi-finals and finals scheduled from December 7-8, respectively. Participating Countries include; Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Guam, Australia, New Zealand and hosts PNG.        

   

Name	Association	Country		Name	Association	Country
Jordan Abel	Aus	PNG		Julianne Aia	LBA	PNG
Zephan Boussougou	LBA	PNG		Philomena Arek	POMJBL	PNG
William Bray	POMJBL	PNG		Sandy Bagelo	ABA	PNG
Harold Elavo	POMJBL	PNG		Jelena Irofe	ABA	PNG
Morea Elavo	POMJBL	PNG		Philomena Isel	ABA	PNG
Frank Kaisa	POMJBL	PNG		Maureen Kai	LBA	PNG
Edwin Kanitau	ABA	PNG		Gloria Kaiawa	ABA	PNG
Jabez Lucas	ABA	PNG		Princess Kaore	POMJBL	PNG
Jabez Maliaki	LBA	PNG		Lynette Lelai	POMJBL	PNG
Peitien Smare	Aus	PNG		Luan Muri	POMJBL	PNG
Ethen Tsiamalili	Aus	PNG		Jessica Pege	LBA	PNG
Ray Whitchurch	POMJBL	PNG		Bianca Tuckayo	LBA	PNG
Reuben Kila	POMJBL	PNG		Harolyne Ipang	LBA	PNG
Charlie Bradley	POMJBL	PNG		Elanoa Davani	POMJBL	PNG

 

Men’s Head Coach: Patrick Ani                                Women’s Head Coach: Moi Muri

Assistant Coach: Richard Arava                               Assistant Coach: Jordan Sere     

Assistant Coach: Percy Aaron                                  Team Manageress: Gela Lucas  

Team Manager: Virgil Hani