Smith hopes to see Jr. Nationals play in 2009 Oceania caging

FIBA Oceania Secretary General Steve Smith has his hats off to the CNMI Men’s and Women’s Junior National Teams for playing with a lot of pride and commitment in the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in Guam last week despite their physical limitation.

“Both teams played with a lot of pride and commitment. Their physical size was a factor which limited their ability to compete with the taller Australian, Tahitian, and Fijian teams,” Smith said in an email to the Saipan Tribune.

The CNMI cagers won two games, beating Palau and Papua New Guinea, while the Commonwealth’s cagebelles prevailed once, beating Palau.

“This was their first time to participate in an Oceania tournament. I am sure they did not have a good idea what to expect, but their understanding of basketball would have been improved by their participation in the games and the clinics arranged before the competition,” he said.

The FIBA Oceania official added he hopes the basketball community in the CNMI had strengthened their love and dedication for the sport by participating in the Oceania caging, and that some players from the Junior Nationals will also play for the Commonwealth in next year’s Oceania tournament.

Saipan will be hosting the 2009 Oceania Tournament in June and the tournament is open for players of all ages.

Aside from the CNMI teams, the 2009 FIBA caging will feature squads from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Guam, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and American Samoa.

Meanwhile, Smith assessed the youth caging held at the University of Guam Fieldhouse and said the absence of New Zealand in the youth tournament in Guam deprived the event from having two potential medal-winning teams. New Zealand won the men’s division in 2006, beating Australia, and finished runner-up to the Aussies in the women’s division. This year, Australia ruled both divisions.

“New Zealand did not compete this time because of a clash of dates. This deprived us of two potential medal-winning teams. In addition, Palau and the CNMI competed in their first OYT and I think they were a little surprised at the quality of their opposition. However this was a good wake-up call for what standards they must strive to achieve if they want to become international players. I would say on balance, the standard was lower than our 2006 event, but that was not true for all teams,” Smith said.

The FIBA official also noted Tahiti’s significant improvement. Tahiti placed second both in the men’s and women’s divisions this year.

“Tahiti had obviously done a lot of work with their junior squads since competing in New Zealand, two years ago. The players were more skillful and better prepared,” he said.

Smith thanked Guam organizers for ensuring the success of the 2008 edition of the OYT and looks forward to another successful competition in New Caledonia in 2008.

“FIBA Oceania and the teams from the Pacific were very appreciative of the effort made by Guam basketball. New Caledonia had previously hosted this event for us in 1998 so we have some idea of what to expect,” Smith said.

“Because New Caledonia will be hosting the Pacific Games in 2011, I am sure they will want to have a successful youth tournament as a way of preparing their facilities and staff for the SPG,” he added.