FIBA Oceania board determines 2017-2019 youth championship hosts

SOUTHPORT - The FIBA Oceania board has determined the hosts of the 2017, 2018 and 2019 Oceania Youth Championships for Men and Women.

Calling for host expressions of interest from all 22 national federations in Oceania in March 2016, FIBA Oceania President, Mr Burton Shipley, was pleased with the quality of the hosting applications received, commenting: "Oceania is such a diverse and expansive region. To have applications from a range of Federations from across the zone willing to host our Youth events is very pleasing. To be able to assign Championships for the next three years is reassuring on the strength of basketball here in Oceania and the commitment of our national federations to continue offering opportunities to their players, officials and supporters to be a part of International basketball."

Guam will host the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships 2017 in Hagatna with the Field House at the University of Guam being the Championship venue.

Guam Basketball Confederation President, Mr Tony Thompson, was thrilled with the decision.

"With Guam taking part in the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers - Division B competition in 2018, it is fantastic we have the opportunity to host a FIBA Championship of this importance in preparation for our senior men's team playing national teams from Asia here on Guam," he said.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) will host the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships 2018 in Port Moresby. Following the success of the 2015 Pacific Games, Papua New Guinea will be well prepared to host these tournaments. 

FIBA Executive Director - Oceania, Mr David Crocker, spoke to the recent successes of PNG following the Pacific Games: "PNG are really gathering momentum after hosting a very successful event in 2015. With the world class facilities in Port Moresby and a great group of people driving the Federation, FIBA is very enthusiastic about returning in 2018."

New Caledonia will host the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships 2019 in Noumea.

"New Caledonia is a consistent competitor and along with Australia and New Zealand has competed in all FIBA Oceania Championships for the past 20 years," Mr Crocker said. "They were a very successful host of the 2011 Pacific Games and they have both, great venues and a skilled volunteer workforce legacy from those Games, that they wish to re-activate.  On a site visit of New Caledonia earlier in 2016 I was very impressed with the leadership of the New Caledonia Federation and their desire to be a regular FIBA Championship host."

FIBA's New Competition System, being implemented from November 2017, will see Asia and Oceania combine for competition purposes. This will be reflected in the youth competition system.

Mr Crocker said: "Traditionally, Oceania tournaments will qualify just one team to the FIBA World Championships. These tournaments will, for the first time, see four Oceania Federations with the opportunity to progress to the next round of qualifying, with the top two placed teams qualifying for the U18 or U16 Asia Championships."

The third and fourth placed teams will also have the opportunity for further competition against their Asian counterparts.

FIBA