AUS - Crocs to the rescue

TOWNSVILLE (FIBA Oceania) - The Townsville Crocodiles have come to the aid of some talented young basketballers, donating a large number of playing uniforms and shooting tops to FIBA Oceania to distribute to its Pacific Island federations.

To date, uniforms have been sent to the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, the Palau Basketball Federations, the Basketball Federations of Samoa, and the Nadi Basketball association in Fiji.

Secretary General of FIBA Oceania Steve Smith said the donations by the Crocs meant a great deal.

"There are some highly athletic basketball players across the Pacific, and many dream of playing in the Australian NBL,” said Smith. “Actions like this from the Townsville Crocs reinforces to the island federations that they are part of one big Oceania basketball family.”

“For the four federations who have so far received the Townsville uniforms, I know they feel especially proud. Gestures like this to volunteer-administered basketball organisations in the Pacific is a way of saying thank you for their hard work, often in very difficult circumstances.”

“Hopefully in the future, we may see some of the NBL teams looking to the island nations to find talented athletes, just as we see in other sporting codes in Australia.”

Townsville Crocodiles CEO Ian Smythe said the team had a responsibility to help grow the sport in the Oceania region.

“We are pleased to be in a position to help FIBA in growing the sport of basketball in the Pacific nations,” said Ian Smythe.

“I applaud the work done by the FIBA Oceania team and it great to see their efforts being rewarded.”

“It was great to see the photos of the players wearing Crocs uniforms, and you could see that they were genuinely excited about their new look.”

“I would encourage all (NBL) clubs to get involved. We all have a responsibility to contribute back to the game and I can see no better way then by helping basketball develop amongst our pacific neighbours.”

NBL.com