Solomon Islands will take on the giants of Melanesia in an up-coming regional basketball qualifying tournament that will be hosted by Papua New Guinea later this year.

According to reports, the FIBA Melanesian Basketball Cup is set to take place in Port Moresby from 24^th September to 1^st October, 2017 and will feature a round-robin championship playoff that will see the final top three national teams going on to represent Melanesia in the 2019 Pacific Games in Tonga.

Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will have to compete against each other in the senior Men’s and Women’s division for the ONLY three (3) spots available in this first ever sub-zone championship, as introduced under the new competition format endorsed by FIBA in 2015.  The final three Melanesian countries will then go on to compete against other top 5 Pacific nations in the next major regional tournament for a further chance in qualifying for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup (men’s) and the FIBA Women’s’ Asia Cup 2021 – Level II.

“This is a crucial tournament for Solomon Islands to compete in, as it is the first regional sub-zone basketball championships to be held for us Melanesia’’, said Solomon Islands Basketball Federation (SIBF) President, Brian Pongotapu. “It is a new system and one that our country must get used to now, in order to have competing chance later down the line, in 2023 when we play hosts to the Pacific Games”

President Brian explained that other Melanesian countries are quickly embracing the new format and systems and Solomon Islands must also do likewise.

“Our close counterparts the Papua New Guinea Basketball Federation are great hosts as they were in 2015, and we hope to continue to learn more from them and our other Melanesian neighbors to improve basketball in our region”, he added.

“We must make sure we do everything we can to make the final three spots in PNG for a chance to compete in Tonga’, explained SIBF Vice President Delma Nori. “SIBF is committed to helping the senior national squad, including all other age category teams to participate in FIBA organized competitions in order to raise the competitiveness of Solomon basketball”.

Following their meeting on Wednesday 22^nd February, 2017, SIBF under the direction of interim-coach and trainer, Fa’amoana Topue have listed the following 30 players for the men’s and women’s training squad for a special meeting to be convened on Thursday 2^nd March, 2017_ Time and place to be confirmed via SIBF Website on-line:

MENS Training Squad members:

1.       Allen Wanefai
2.       Timmy Magi
3.       Waige Turueke
4.       Augustine Basia
5.       Moses Au
6.       Chris Ora
7.       Hilton Gwali
8.       Tuala Deleiverata
9.       Jermaine Akaramo
10.   Godfrey Toramo
11.   Goldie Kari
12.   Pfendel Tingi’ia
13.   Bernard Vave
14.   Chris Kisiani
15.   Leon Hatigeva
16.   Howard Tang
17.   Kevin Posala
18.   Tango Kaitu’u
19.   Baiabe Teika
20.   Philip Jr. Manakako
21.   Alex Masaea (Overseas)
22.   Phillip Tuhaika (Overseas)
23.   Mathew Boardman (Overseas)
24.   Jude Devesi (Overseas)
25.   Anthony Wong (Overseas)
26.   Charles Radclyffe (Overseas)
27.   Billy Manu (Overseas)
28.   Joe Daka (Overseas)
29.   Brian Fatai (Overseas)
30.   Gavin Lulu (Overseas)

Coaches (interim): Fa’amoana Topue, Moses Kivo

 

WOMENS Training Squad members:

1.       Ruth Sade
2.       Joycelyn Basia
3.       Calrose Gwali
4.       Elsie Daiwo
5.       Mirriam Basia
6.       Shalom Akao-Waita
7.       Hellen Aumae
8.       Trixie Kaitu’u
9.       Nicola Pongi
10.   Natala Tepuke
11.   Esther Teatanga
12.   Rose Maea
13.   Annie George
14.   Rebbie Basia
15.   Ayesha Simbe
16.   Elima Ma’aria
17.   Delma Peseika
18.   Mary Daffie
19.   Annie Hora
20.   Fiona Meke
21.   Monica Malma
22.   Edela Animamu
23.   Aloma Oti
24.   Carisha
25.   Triza Kere
26.   Ayesha (Selwyn College)
27.   Charleen Kere (Overseas)
28.   Maya Van Den Heever (Overseas)
29.   Nefertiti Van Den Heever (Overseas)
30.   Daphne Mane (Overseas)

31. Hema Aquila

Coaches (interim): Willie Sade, Delma Nori