FIBA Oceania to also hold clinic, confab in June

Two more important events will take place in June when Saipan hosts the 2009 Oceania Basketball Tournament.

FIBA Oceania secretary general Steve Smith said besides hosting the regional caging, the CNMI will also be the venue for the FIBA Oceania Congress and a clinic for the International Licensing of FIBA International Referees.

Smith said that at the Congress, they will be electing the FIBA Oceania Board that will lead the organization for the next four years (2010-2014).

At the meeting, the board is expected to approve the activity program for the four-year period.

“The meeting will also sign off on the activity and financial reports for the 2005-2009 cycle,” Smith said in an email to Saipan Tribune.

FIBA Oceania will be bringing in FIBA technical director Lubomir Kotleba on Saipan to conduct a clinic for the International Licensing of FIBA International Referees.

Kotleba, who is based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a former player, coach, executive, and referee. He has officiated the finals of the Olympic Games, the World, European and other continental Championships, as well as European Club competitions. Right now, he is in charge of overseeing the training, selection, and conduct of FIBA referees.

“A FIBA International Referee is licensed to officiate at FIBA World Championships and Olympic Games (although there is no guarantee that a qualified referee will be invited),” Smith said.

The FIBA Oceania secretary general is hoping that more referees in the Pacific will get certification as FIBA International Referee. The CNMI has one in Gabriel White.

“It is hoped as a result of the clinic in June on Saipan to qualify more Pacific Island officials as FIBA International Referees,” Smith said.

The clinic and the FIBA Oceania Congress are only side events for the June affair, as the 22 members of the zone will be focusing on the basketball tournament.

The Oceania caging will feature eight teams each from the men’s and women’s divisions with the CNMI automatically gaining entry to the tournament being the host country.

New Zealand and Australia are also shoe-ins leaving only five slots to the 19 other members. Guam and Palau are likely to make the list, too due to their proximity to Saipan.

Games in the Oceania caging will be played at the Marianas High School Gymnasium and the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with the latter scheduled to undergo a major renovation to meet the FIBA Oceania standard.