The Basketball Tournament at the Games was a huge success, both in participation numbers and standard of play.  While the early games in the tournament were too much “run and gun”, the coaches eventually got their players to play basketball and by the midway mark of the tournament there were many excellent games.

Again old rivalries came forward and the power states of the past continued to show through.  Peleliu are always tough, Koror are always in the mix and of more recent times Melekeok have shown that they can play with the “big boys”.    In this Games, teams like Sonsorol and Ngaremlengui also showed that they may be forces to be reckoned with in 2011. 

The PBF will take a look at some of the administration matters concerning the conduct of the tournament to make it more efficient and allow for the best possible standards of play to come through. 

Overall, it was a great tournament with some 50 men and 40 women being identified for possible selection to the National Men’s and Women’s Squads for the NDP in the next year.  There are some exciting players coming through in the 16-20 years of age.  With more than 15 male players over 6 foot 2 inches and some 7 female players around the 6 foot mark and all very athletic players, plus a wealth of exciting and exceptionally quick guards, the future is looking good for basketball Palau.  Final selections for the senior National Squads will be made in September.