Oceania caging logo unveiled

The official logo for the 2009 Oceania Basketball Tournament is out, highlighting the colors of host CNMI.

Designed by Gabriel White of Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, the logo features a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone in the center and a mwar (the local name for wreath) surrounding a basketball. These images are at the upper portion of the logo, while the lower part has FIBA Oceania’s colors.

The logo is a beautiful reflection of the traditions of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands and the modern face of basketball in Oceania, according to a news release from BANMI.

The CNMI will be hosting the Oceania caging from June 20 to 28 with competitions for both the men’s and women’s divisions.

Besides the CNMI, seven other FIBA Oceania members will be sending their men’s and women’s teams to Saipan for the summer tournament. Leading the list are powerhouse teams from Australia and New Zealand. Joining them are New Caledonia, Fiji, Tahiti, Guam, and Palau.

BANMI secretary general Michael White in the same news release said the Oceania caging is held once every four years, unless the Pacific Mini Games also host a basketball competition. The last Oceania Basketball Tournament took place in 2001 in Suva, Fiji, as there was a basketball competition in the 2005 Mini Games in Palau.

Australia took the gold medal in the women’s division after beating Tahiti in the finals, 90-60, while New Caledonia ruled the men’s division after edging Fiji in the title game, 81-80. Australia finished third in the men’s after downing New Zealand, 97-66, while Fiji won over New Caledonia, 68-67, in the battle for third in the women’s division.

The Oceania caging will be the biggest basketball tournament that the CNMI will be hosting and BANMI, which is tasked to organize the event, is encouraging the community to help the association in making the quadrennial tilt a success.

“Hosting this tournament is a tremendous honor, not only for CNMI basketball, but for the entire community. The tournament will bring 200 or more players, coaches, team officials, fans, and media personnel to the Commonwealth from across the Pacific. We will get daily press coverage in some of our major tourism markets. This will be a great shot in the arm for CNMI tourism, at a time when we really need it. We’re really looking forward to competing on the court against Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the Pacific’s best,” said organizing committee chair and BANMI president Elias Rangamar.

Games in Oceania caging will be played at the Marianas High School Gymnasium and Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with the former scheduled to undergo major repairs this month to meet the standard of FIBA Oceania.

Local organizers are counting on public and private agencies help to have the repairs done in time for the tournament.

So far, two private companies—Tan Holdings and Joeten Group—have thrown in their support to the event and BANMI hopes more will join the bandwagon.

For more information about sponsorship, contact Rangamar at 664-2502 or Michael White at 234-6547.