SUVA - Last month could barely have been busier for Fiji National Basketball Development Officer Laisiasa Puamau, who is continuing to co-ordinate a range of exciting basketball initiatives.

Working with the valuable support of his assistants Meme Waqairaiwai and Grace Taito, there has been a varied agenda of late, including the National Schools Championships and assorted clinics for coaches, players and referees.

Puamau facilitated a level one coaching course for local school teachers and players in Lautoka, with a very healthy and encouraging total of 47 participants attending the course.

Meanwhile in Suva, a weekend coaching clinic also had 10 teachers take advantage of an important refresher coaching clinic.

At the same time, FIBA referee Navi Talai conducted a level 1 referee course which was primarily aimed at up-skilling match officials for the all-important schools competition - still one of the highlights of the basketball calendar in Fiji.

There were also a numbers of clinics held in schools, a programme of participation which had eye-catching participation numbers, feeding into the excitement of the Tuckers Ice-Cream National High School competition, where in excess of 600 players are stepping out to play.

Interestingly, this year has also seen a major breakthrough in encouraging traditionally rugby-focused schools to get involved in the national tournament.

Puamau confirmed the involvement of a number of new schools in the eight-week long competition, which is still in progress and will conclude in August when the National Champions will be determined.

"It came about just basically with our volunteers and development officers visiting the schools," he said.

"We have two volunteers conducting clinics at the school.

"It's quite an achievement for us and we are grateful for the schools accepting our invitation to conduct those development clinics."

Forty-seven teams from 18 schools in the Central Division, plus 10 western teams, are participating in the Central and Western Zone Basketball League, underlining the popularity of the annual event.

FIBA Oceania Development Manager Annie La Fleur has also been visiting Fiji as part of a one-month programme in the Pacific, observing staff in their home environment, local facilities and programmes - as well as meeting with players, coaches, referees and organisers.

She received significant media exposure in Fiji through local television, radio and print media and took the time to observe games in the Tuckers High School competition.

La Fleur also worked with the senior national teams in preparation for the Pacific Championships in November, as well as having discussions with staff at the Fiji National Olympic Committee, Oceania National Olympic Committee and the Australian High Commission.

Finally, Le Fleur also met the Commissioner of Police and President of Basketball Fiji, Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua at Fiji Police Headquarters.

FIBA