Organizers cancel Pohnpei MBT

It’s now final and official as organizers of the 2008 Micronesian Basketball Tournament decided to cancel the scheduled event in Kolonia, Pohnpei this year.

In an email sent to representatives of the nine member basketball federations in Micronesia, co-chair Jim Tobin said they have agreed to cancel the games since only three island nations committed to field their respective teams.

“The Pohnpei Basketball Association and the 2008 MBT local organizing committee have agreed to cancel the 2008 MBT,” said Tobin, who along with Castro Joab, is chairman of the local organizing committee.

Tobin said only Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Guam agreed to participate. Pohnpei and Guam are the only teams that will be competing in the men’s and women’s divisions, while Kosrae will only send a men’s team.

Tobin said they would again send invitations to all member federations once he meets with Guam Basketball Confederation director of basketball operations Bob Pelkey.

“We would contact you all again in November 2008 and see if there is interest in holding the MBT in Pohnpei in July 2009,” Tobin said.

Chuuk, Yap, CNMI, Nauru, and Kiribati have already informed Tobin about their inability to send teams to the competition.

Tobin said in an previous email that it would be hard to organize a good tournament with only three men’s and two women’s teams.

He added that Palau and the CNMI asked to postpone the MBT until next year.

Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael A. White informed Tobin that CNMI could not compete this year due to funding problems.

White said the CNMI could join the tournament if it is moved to next year and would not coincide with the Oceania Tournament, which will also be held next year.

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, through Australia, and to Guam to reach Pohnpei. 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.