Basketball PNG gets the nod to compete in Mini Pacific Games

Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea has started preparations for the Mini Pacific Games following the approval by PNG Olympic Committee.

BFPNG will compete in the 2025 mini-games in Palau, in the Under-23, 3x3 divisions after meeting all the requirements set by the Justification Committee.

BFPNG president David Peter said a wider squad for the men’s and women’s teams will be assembled from all four regions ahead of the first trials, next month.

“We’ve got a lot of responsibilities. One of the things we have to do is have a list of potential players that we can trim down over a period of about 1-year,” Peter told NBC News.

“Within the time we will be able to produce the team that is going to participate. We’d like to give opportunity across all the players in the country so our selectors will be moving to the four regions to do selections.”

Selections for the extended squad started in Islands region last weekend in Kavieng, and will be followed by Momase in Lae this weekend.

Scouting process for Southern and Highlands region is yet to be confirmed, pending venues and dates.

Peter said a national trial will be staged in Port Moresby in the first week of November where players from the four regions will showcase their portrait to impress national coaches.

The wider squad will be trimmed and put into training before announcing the final team next year.

Meanwhile, players in the nation’s capital have been identified and undergoing training.