The American Samoa Basketball Association concludes its 2013 Summer youth clinic that was sponsored by the department of parks & recreations on Satuday June 29th at the Tafuna high school gym. The basketball summer youth clinic was a huge success that featured all 4 sites (Malaeimi site, Fagaloa site, Alofau site & Tafuna site) coming together for a friendly competition.

ASBA President, Milton Taufa'asau, has been very happy with the turnout of over 150 athletes showing up to Tafuna high school for the final day. "It was a proud moment for the association to see so many kids coming out to showcase their skills that they have learned. Its also a great day for basketball in the territory, to heighten the interest of basketball in American Samoa" says Taufa'asau.

The coaches that were instrumental in making these clinics happen:

• Paul, Pam & Pauline Von Dincklage - East Side site (Alofau elementary courts)
• Michael & Cherish Pereira - Fagaloa site (Aua Elementary & Samoana high school courts)
• Meleisha Telefoni & Samoa Samoa - West side site (Malaeimi stake center courts)
• Milton Taufa'asau, Sam Steffany, Allen Fuimaono, Mike Tolmie, Talanoa Smith, Diehl Langkilde & Valusia Talataina - West side site (Tafuna high school)

On the final day of competition, the east side athletes were the most dominate team as they have won all of their games against all the sites. Coach Paul Von Dincklage was very pleased with his team as he gave them a huge hug after the competition. However, to the players delight the coaches decided to have all the teams play against...THE COACHES. The entire gym roared with excitment as if though the athletes were looking for redemption to the coaches for the intense training given to them. It was a great game between the players & coaches as the game ended in favor of the coaches.

One mother of the one of the athletes stated, "at first my son was conflicted on finding a sport to play. Now he can't stop talking about playing basketball all the time." Another father stated, "when my daugther gets home from the clinics, she's already in the driveway working on her free throws, shooting & dribbling."

The Associaton is very pleased to see the huge support from the parents and especially from ACE Hardware who were generous in helping supply basketballs. Without them, we wouldn't be able to be more effective during the clinics.

The Association is now preparing to participate in the Troy Polamalu Foundation camp for officials & coaches that will be conducted by Shannon Easton, a female official for the NCAA & NFL, on July 4, 5 & 6. Also on July 9, 10 & 11 the Association will be hosting coaches from Kansas to conduct clinics and competition for our athletes.

"We're very excited to see a lot of new things happening in our basketball community and would like to take advantge of any help from these coaches & officials who come to American Samoa and offer any assistance that they can. We're looking to getting better not only for our players, but also our officials & coaches. We invite anyboy who is interested in becoming a coach, official or already are, to please attend these clinics & trainings", quoted by ASBA President Milton Taufa'asau.