Port Moresby - The Basketball National All Stars Championship, the highly anticipated basketball tournament of the year, is now confirmed to take place on December 5th-8th, 2024. The tournament will be hosted in Riwi Village in Ialibu District, Southern Highlands Province.

David Peter, the President of BFPNG stated that decision to defer the championships was made after a careful consideration of FIBA’s deadlines for 3 X 3 competitions and PNG Olympic Committee’s deadlines for the selection of Under 23 players for 3 X 3 Mini Pacific Games. FIBA expects BFPNG to conduct about 8-16, 3 X 3 competition before the end of the year while the Olympic Committee expects the long listing of Under 23 players for 3 X 3 Mini Pacific Games to be submitted by the 31 October 2024. The resignation of the Executive Officer, who was driving these activities and tournament makes it difficult to conduct the tournament concurrently with the 3 X 3 competitions.

The tournament is equally important as the 3 X 3 competitions and therefore it will be undertaken after the 3 X 3 competitions are completed by the end of November 2024, so staff and other resources are not stretched too thin resulting in poor outcome.

Mr Peter further stated that the basketball has operated on ad-hoc basis for too long and therefore BFPNG is embarking on strategic plan to set the direction for basketball in the long term. FIBA has come on board to help develop 3-year operational plan which will operationalise the strategic plan. These plans must be completed by the end of the year, and this is also part of the reason for the deferral.  

With these new dates, BFPNG, is confident that this year's tournament will be a success as students will also be on holidays and participate in the tournament. Selections for the 2025 Melanesia Cup and other national competitions will be undertaken during this tournament.

With the primary objective of supporting government’s sport policy of ‘go rural to go global’ the Riwi Village will host this national tournament. The tournament is expected to draw many raw talents from many parts of the country and will be delivered in partnership with the rural community and the various stakeholders.