Previous Story
3×3 venue completion in October
FIBA Oceania development manager Annie Lafleur, center, is joined by local organizers during a site visit at the stadium being built at Korman 2 for the 3×3 competition in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu. (Vanuatu Mini Games Photo)
Construction of the venue for the 3×3 basketball competition in the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu is expected to be completed in October.
Last week, technical delegate for basketball and FIBA Oceania development manager Annie Lafleur had a site visit at the stadium that is being built at Korman 2 and was told of the completion date. The stadium was among the last facilities being constructed in Port Villa, as local organizers through the recommendation of the Pacific Games Council and Fédération Internationale de Basketball just recently included 3×3 on the calendar of events for the Mini Games.
“3×3 basketball is a late inclusion in the Pacific Mini Games so the purpose of my visit was to meet the local organizing committee and see how we can all work together to make the event a successful one. There’s a lot of excitement in the air about the new stadium and the legacy that will be left behind once the event is over,” Lafleur was quoted as saying at the 2017 Pacific Mini Games website.’
At least 10 countries have already committed to field teams in the 3×3 competition, including the CNMI, which will only send a men’s squad to Vanuatu.
Mariana Islands Basketball Federation will be hosting qualifying tournaments to select the team that will represent the Commonwealth in the Mini Games. MIBF earlier announced that it will have two qualifiers this month, but the dates may change as the association is still talking to FIBA Oceania for guidelines. MIBF wants to offer teams on Tinian and Rota the same opportunities that will be given to Saipan squads, so the group may work on a different schedule to get everybody involved.
MIBF and other local federations (golf, athletics, and rugby 7s) have only until October to turn in the names of athletes they are bringing to Vanuatu for the quadrennial event that will take place from Dec. 4 to 15.
