Regional basketball is expected to score a triple-double this week through the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2022 which starts today at the Vodafone Arena in Suva.
A triple-double is a basketball term which means a player scoring three statistical figures in double digits, often thought of as a great accomplishment shoot through the hoop.
Basketball Fiji chief operating officer Laisiasa Puamau said the tournament would boost the promotion of the sport locally and regionally, revive interest in the sport and prepare Melanesian nations for next year’s Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands.
“Especially with the live telecast of games by Fijian television station Mai TV which has secured exclusive coverage rights to air the FIBA Melanesian Cup 2022,” Puamau said.
“The live telecast, the live streaming of updates on social media platforms and media news channels will promote the tournament to the world. Simultaneously, it will promote our countries globally, especially Fiji, being the host country.
“This is a big reach for basketball in Fiji and the region considering our status among other sports.”
Fiji is hosting for the first time after Papua New Guinea, the men’s and women’s champion, staged the inaugural event in 2017.
The tournament is contested by PNG, New Caledonia and Solomon Islands and Fiji.
“We want to repeat what PNG did in 2017 by hosting and winning the men’s and women’s titles as overall champion. We are hosting and we want to take the titles away from PNG.”
The tournament is the sub-regional qualification phase for next year’s 2023 PG in the Solomon Islands.
“Fiji is fortunate to host the event since we had the last tournaments in 2016 which was the FIBA Oceania U18 qualification and our last open national event was the 2003 South Pacific Games basketball in Suva.
“We are super excited to host this week because it will help grow interest towards the sport.”
The tournament starts today.