Organizers cancel ’08 MBT in Pohnpei

The organizing committee of the 2008 Micronesian Basketball Tournament finally canceled the biennial tournament since only three countries will be fielding teams in this year’s games to be held in Kolonia, Pohnpei.

Only Pohnpei and Guam sent confirmation that they will be competing in the men’s and women’s divisions, while Kosrae will only send a men’s team.

Chuuk, Yap, CNMI, Nauru, and Kiribati have already informed Jim Tobin, who co-chairs the 2008 Pohnpeii MBT with Castro Joab, about their inability to send teams to the competition.

“Sorry but it will be hard to organize a good tournament with only three men’s and two women’s teams. I will wait until this Friday to make a final decision on whether to hold the tournament this year,” said Tobin in an email.

Tobin said Palau and the CNMI asked to postpone the MBT until next year while he has yet to receive any word from the Marshall Islands.

Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael A. White informed Tobin that CNMI would not send teams in both divisions citing funding as the main reason.

“We are committed to attending the Oceania Youth Tournament in Guam later this year and the cost of airfare, accommodations, and meals in Pohnpeii is unfortunately more than we can undertake at this time,” White said.

White added the CNMI would be interested in joining the tournament if it is moved to next year. “Provided that it did not conflict with the Oceania Tournament which will also be held next year.”

White then sent BANMI’s best wishes to the organizing committee as they hope for a successful tournament.

Only Guam and host Pohnpei beat the March 14 preliminary registration and were able to submit the requirements of their men’s and women’s teams.

Palau requested the tournament be moved to next year to give them more time to prepare.

The trip will be costly for Kiribati as their teams need to fly to Fiji, thru Australia, and to Guam to reach Pohnpeii. Kiribati also needs to have U.S. transit visas to get through Guam.

The long trip to Pohnpei would cost $2,800 in airfare for members. Nauru, which is near Kiribati, would also spend the same amount and that would make it hard for the two countries to join in this year’s tournament.

“I see no reason to organize and hold the tournament if we cannot get at least six men’s and four women’s teams,” said Tobin in an earlier email.

In the last MBT in Guam, teams had to only pay for their airfare while the local organizing committee provided them with meals, accommodation, and transportation.

White added 2008 MBT organizers want the visiting teams to shoulder everything, which means aside from airfare the visiting teams would also pay for their own food, lodging, and transportation.