All-Female technical crew officiated Papua New Guinea vs American Samoa
The final day of the Group Phase of the Women's Pacific Games Basketball tournament between American Samoa and Papua New Guinea featured a game officiated by an all-female technical crew.
Apia (Samoa) - The final day of the Group Phase of the Women's Pacific Games Basketball tournament between American Samoa and Papua New Guinea featured a game officiated by an all-female technical crew.
The Pacific Games volunteers of the Samoa Basketball Federation had more than 90 percent female in their crew of table officials, statisticians, and technical officials.
"We were pleasantly surprised with the turnout from the volunteers for the table officials and had only 2 male volunteers so it was bound to happen and we are proud of how skilled they have been, in running the games," said FIBA Competitions Manager and Technical Delegate, Amanda Jenkins.
Pacific Games Basketball Sports Competition Manager, Sarah-Lee Liliuokalani Malaesilia shared that the enthusiasm for basketball has been growing rapidly since Samoa hosted the FIBA Polynesia Cup in November of 2018.
"Ever since the 'Poly Cup', basketball, in general, has been rising in popularity in recent months and we are proud to see the enthusiasm and reception of the people to the game," said the proud Samoan, "I think our players are inspiring a whole new generation of future basketball players and officials especially with their impressive play in this tournament."
FIBA Executive Director, David Crocker shared his delight in witnessing the action and commended the technical crew's management of the game.
"The technical officials have been fantastic and it's been a joy to watch them improve each day. We have been getting sold out arenas every time the host team plays and the quality of games is getting better every day," shared Crocker.
"I think this sets a good example on the capabilities and competence of our female technical officials as to what we have witnessed here so far in Apia," he added.
The referees for the game are Catherine Poithilli from New Caledonia, Herevaea Hamblin and Rosa Tuhiata Mariteragi from Tahiti while the referee supervisor is Jillian Harris from New Zealand.
FIBA