Volunteers the Heart of Championship

PORT MORESBY (Papua New Guinea) – Over 30 people have volunteered to be part of the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship Port Moresby.

The Championship has been an epic event that has brought together talented young athletes from across the region and while the players showcased their skills on court, the volunteer cohort have been equally as impressive off the court. 

These dedicated individuals, include members of the PNG National Team’s, up-and-coming basketball stars, UPNG Basketball Association Members and dedicated BFPNG families.  These volunteers have played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the tournament.

Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea (BFPNG) President, Emma Waiwai, emphasised the significance of their role.

“Without volunteers, you cannot run a competition effectively,” Waiwai said.  “Their contributions are essential in various aspects of the tournament, from crowd controlling to maintaining the cleanliness of the court.  They tirelessly wiped the floor to ensure the players’ safety and facilitated the seamless flow of the tournament.”

Volunteers Team Leader Jordan Sere said most of the volunteers come from within the city and have experience playing basketball themselves. 

"At the moment we have 30 volunteers on hand,” Sere said.  “They all come from our local associations in Port Moresby and beyond.”

"Our volunteers have been taking care of the team movements, the training venues, the background stuff of what happens in the game. At the moment we're engaged with literally everything from running lunches to water to ice, all that. "

Sere said among these volunteers, the PNG elite men's basketball team also raised their hand to contribute to share the workload during this weeklong championship in Port Moresby while juggling their training schedule to prepare for the 2023 Pacific Games next month. 

"Having the PNG men's elite team volunteer to help with the workload has made everything easier, it also gives confidence to the juniors players who always look up to them to play their best."

The volunteers, though often unnoticed, were the backbone of the event. Their selflessness and love for the sport drove them to contribute.

FIBA – Jamie Haro and Melvinah Rabi