A new collaboration drives equality and success for Pacific basketball

A new partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Oceania and the Australian Government, through PacificAus Sports, is set to supercharge the game right across the Pacific.

The announcement was made in the wake of November’s hugely successful FIBA U15 Oceania Cup, a tournament that showcased the talent of young basketballers from Pacific teams including the Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tonga and Guam alongside Australia and New Zealand.

Kakala Ofanoa contributed six points to Tonga’s 75–68 victory over Samoa in the third-place decider, and was thrilled with her team’s achievement.

“I love my team; we played hard and trained hard together,” she said after the game. “[Winning bronze] means a lot. We made our kingdom proud. We’re going to train more and come back for the U16 Women’s Asia Cup!”

The groundbreaking three-year partnership between FIBA in Oceania and PacificAus Sports will provide players, coaches, officials, and administrators with enriched opportunities to train and compete at the highest level. All fifteen members of FIBA Oceania will see increased investment in their national programs, while the regional focus will be on identifying and nurturing the young women who will be the future leaders and decision-makers of Pacific basketball.

FIBA Executive Director - Oceania, Amanda Jenkins, emphasised the game-changing nature of the collaboration: “This partnership with PacificAus Sports marks a significant moment for FIBA in Oceania. It underpins our unwavering commitment to promoting women in basketball and ensures that women and girls have access to resources, learning, and decision-making spaces at all levels of basketball.”

Women taking their place as leaders

Over the next three years, the partnership is expected to directly benefit more than 1,000 women and girls in the Pacific basketball community. Activities will include high-performance training camps and competitions, professional development programs, and a range of innovative media and communications projects designed to champion the role of women and girls in basketball.

A flagship initiative of the partnership will be the Women in Leadership (WiLEAD) program. It will provide women with opportunities to develop both their skills and confidence, creating a network of talented and knowledgeable women across the national federations, and increasing the growth and visibility of the women’s game across the region.

“Our strategic goal [is to] empower females in the region across all facets of the game,” said Jenkins.

Success on the court—and beyond

The partnership builds on recent successes, including November’s U15 Oceania Cup as well as the inaugural FIBA in Oceania 3x3 High Performance Camp, held on the Gold Coast in September. This five-day event brought together over 100 players from fifteen Pacific teams, offering a platform for young athletes to refine their skills in 3x3 basketball—a format that provides smaller nations with unique opportunities to compete internationally.

“[The camp] represents a significant investment in the future of basketball in the region and is expected to leave a lasting legacy,” said Jenkins after the event. “The impact of this initiative extends far beyond the court. It's about inspiring young people, fostering a love of sport, and building stronger communities.”

The format, which had its Olympic debut at this year’s Paris Games, is seen as having great potential in countries where resources are limited and quality basketball infrastructure may be scarce. Etita Tekanene from Kiribati, a nation that currently has only two professional basketball courts, was an enthusiastic participant in this year’s 3x3 Camp.

“Me and my team-mates have learned so much,” she said, speaking on the ABC’s Pacific Beat program. “Ball handling, shooting, meeting new friends, having fun with them—and learning from our coaches as well.”

A bright future for today’s ground-breakers

From establishing the high-performance pathways for the champions of tomorrow, to cultivating a new generation of leaders, the new partnership between PacificAus Sports and FIBA in Oceania is poised to leave a lasting impact on both the sport and the communities involved.

As Jenkins put it, “We are not only enhancing the skills and opportunities for women and girls in basketball, but also fostering a culture of equality and leadership that will benefit the entire community.”

For Kakala Ofanoa, Etita Tekanene and the thousands of other athletes rising through the ranks, the future of Pacific basketball is looking bright.