The following is taken from the FIBA Oceania website article.

“Ken Coulsen (NZL), Matt Beattie and Philip Haines (AUS) and Ramsie Joab (Federated States of Micronesia [FSM]), have received an invitation from FIBA to officiate at the U-19 World Championships for Men and Women to be played in June and July in Latvia and Chile (respectively).

This is a great achievement for the four individuals and also for the programs within their federations which have prepared them for these international appointments.

FIBA only invites the 'best of the best' to its World Championships so to receive an invite, ranks our Oceania officials in elite company.

Participating in a FIBA World Championship is an important opportunity for officials to see the basketball world outside their national borders, and get connected to international trends in the game.

FIBA have made giant strides in recent years in the training and evaluation of referees at its World Championships and each of the officials is sure to come back from this year's events with plenty of information to share with their officiating partners at home.

A recent media release from FIBA highlighted that the U-19 World Championships are a window in to the future of World Basketball superstardom. Andrew Bogut  Andrei Kirilenko, Pau Gasol, Vince Carter, Wang Zhi Zhi, Dejan Bodiroga and Steve Nash have all taken the court in past U-19 Championships.

It is certain that our Oceania officials will experience some memorable times during their participation in this year's events.

The invitation extended by FIBA to Ramsie Joab of FSM is an important reminder to lovers of our game that there is more than one pathway to a World Championship.  If you're not good enought to make the national team, or your national team is not good enought to qualify, consider the officiating pathway.

One thing remains the same, the demands and expectations placed on the officials is no less than that placed on the players and teams, so each of our Oceania officials have plenty of preparation to do between now and June to make sure they are ready to perform at their best and meet the needs of the Championships.

For more information about the FIBA U-19 World Championships, visit FIBA’s website.”