CANBERRA - The changing of the guard for FIBA Oceania has taken place after the 2010-14 board held their final meeting in a handover and information exchange with many of their successors who will now take up the governance reins.

Under the leadership of President Bob Elphinston, the board discussed the status of multiple projects with incoming board members, including President-elect Burton Shipley, who will subsequently hold their first meeting in Brisbane during November.

"This Board has achieved remarkable results over the past few years," declared Elphinston who took the opportunity to underline an array of accomplishments.

"It has included the continued growth of the National Basketball Development Officers (NBDOs) to 10 countries in the Zone; the opening of world qualifying competitions to all members of the Zone; the agreement for the Asia/Oceania qualification process to world events commencing in 2016, and the securing of significant funding from the Australian Government to support the Pacific Sports Partnership programme to address health issues in targeted countries."

Shipley also acknowledged the outstanding service of the outgoing FIBA Oceania Board and stated: "The incoming Board has some big shoes to fill as they take up the responsibility of leading basketball in Oceania over the next five year horizon.

"Bob Elphinston and Barbara Wheadon have both successfully led this organisation as President at different times over the past 12 years and have also served on the FIBA Central Board during this period.

"Bob of course was FIBA President during the 2010-14 period. I think we have a very stable base to continue to build upon from their good work."

Updates were provided on the following projects:
- Progress around the implementation of the FIBA global governance reforms is on-track. The major priority being to establish a newly formed FIBA Oceania organisation by no later than 31 December 2014.
- An agreement has been executed with the Guam Federation for a facilities grant to assist with development and this is the first allocation made from the FIBA Oceania facilities grant fund.
- Papua New Guinea are steadily progressing their preparations for the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby. This facility will be a major platform for basketball to move to another level with the ability for the Federation to generate a solid income from the facility in the future.
- The report summaries of each National Basketball Development Officer (NBDO) were tabled to demonstrate that basketball is more active through the work of the NBDOs.
- The Pacific Sports Partnership (PSP) 'Hoops4Health' programme (supported by the Australian Government) is being piloted in Fiji. The Board of Basketball Fiji have reviewed and strengthened their constitution, planning and operations to enable the organisation to capitalise on the available resources. FIBA Oceania will use lessons support the implementation into other targeted countries.
- The Board has confirmed its commitment to working with the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) to utilise the Readiness Assessment Tool (RAT) to assist FIBA Oceania gain a better understanding of the Member Federations and resource requirements.
- FIBA Oceania will call for bids to host the 2015 FIBA Oceania U16 Championships that are qualifying events to the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championships.
- Investment is being made from FIBA Oceania to Federations that have identified a plan to activate 3x3. This investment with the support of ONOC has been identified as a key step in growing 3x3 in Oceania. A number of activation plans have been submitted and are being supported by FIBA Oceania to register their competitions on the FIBA 3X3 Planet website.
- FIBA Oceania agreed on a proposal to submit to OSFO and the Pacific Games Council recommending that multi-sport games at sub-zone level such as the successful Micronesian Games, be implemented in both Polynesia and Melanesia.

There was also extensive discussions about the pleasing progress of the FIBA Oceania U19 Championships to be played at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji (1-6 December 2014), including the donation of 1,000 basketballs by the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) which will be distributed at the event.

Friday marks 100 days until the tournament tips off, with 10 male and female nations fighting it out for qualification to next year's FIBA U19 World Championships for Men and Women.

FIBA Oceania Secretary General David Crocker has expressed his excitement in the build-up and declared: "Ten teams in each gender is a great response to this playing opportunity. Australia and New Zealand may have too much strength and experience for most of the competing teams, but I'm pleased nobody is deterred by this. You don't get better and close the gap if you don't play against the best.

"The tropical conditions of Fiji in December could play some havoc with the Australian and New Zealand teams that won't be as acclimatised as other competing nations. This is an advantage that could assist some nations that live in this type of climate.

"I have been able to see a number of the teams preparing for this event already in their national gyms and they are all looking for an edge whether it be in fitness, physicality or their shooting, they all have a strength they are working on.

"The tournament will have a competition twist, with teams playing in two pools of five. at the completion of initial pool play, the top four teams will move into Division One and play for gold, silver and bronze medals.

"And then as a unique initiative for this event, teams 5-10 will play in Division B, also for gold, silver and bronze medals. We want all games to mean something as the tournament gets to the business end."

FIBA