Port Moresby - Papua New Guinea’s basketball community is celebrating the remarkable achievement of Ms. Nape Waka, who has been awarded the prestigious 2025 FIBA Marty Handson Scholarship, marking a milestone for women in sport and grassroots basketball development.

Waka, widely recognized as an extraordinary leader both on and off the court, currently a coaching staff member with the Saints Basketball Club in Port Moresby, where she nurtures young athletes with discipline, teamwork, and pride. She also served as Assistant Coach for Team PNG at the 2025 Melanesian Basketball Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands, reinforcing PNG’s growing presence in regional basketball.

Nape Waka and two other coaches from Fiji and Samoa spent a week-long immersive coaching experience coordinated by Basketball Vitoria, shadowing elite coaches and engaging in high-performance environments

For Waka, the scholarship is more than personal recognition - it is a platform to amplify women’s voices in basketball. “I'm truly humbled and honoured to be awarded the Marty Handson Scholarship,” she said. “This recognition means a lot to me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to further develop my skills and pave the way for women in basketball in my community.”

Her journey from Daigiri village, where basketball courts are a fixture of community life, to representing PNG on the international stage highlights her as a trailblazer, mentor, and advocate.

The knowledge and confidence gained through the Marty Handson Program will directly impact team preparation, performance, and long-term development in PNG. Coaches engaged in modules on leadership, communication, athlete development, and inclusive practices, building a regional coaching network that will continue to grow beyond the program.

While five PNG coaches registered for the program, unforeseen challenges meant Waka was the only one determined enough to secure a spot in Australia. Her success reflects both resilience and opportunity, supported by initiatives such as PacifiAus Sports, an Australian Government sports diplomacy program creating pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to access elite competitions and high-performance coaching.

Nape Waka’s achievement is more than personal triumph - it represents a strategic investment in grassroots basketball development and a source of national pride. Her story celebrates the power of sport to unite communities, uplift young people, and safeguard the next generation.

Waka is widely recognized as an extraordinary leader both on and off the court. She currently coaches the Saints Basketball Club, a junior team in Port Moresby, where she nurtures young athletes with discipline, teamwork, and pride.

Her leadership extends to the international stage, having served as Assistant Coach for Team PNG at the 2025 Melanesian Basketball Cup in Honiara, Solomon Islands. In this role, she contributed to the team’s competitive spirit and reinforced PNG’s growing presence in regional basketball.

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