19 of the 21 FIBA Oceania Federations assembled in Sydney AUSTRALIA over the weekend of 9 – 11 May for the 2014 Congress. The Federations were joined by FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann who made a quick trip from the FIBA Headquarters in Mies Switzerland.

The weekend format included information sessions by Kosta Iliev, FIBA 3X 3 Global Manager, Dennis Miller, Oceania National Olympic Committees Executive Officer and Sainimili Talatoka, Oceania Sports Education Program Manager. The FIBA Oceania Board reported to the delegates on the progress against the 2010-14 Strategic Plan, along with facilitating a session to begin planning for the next FIBA Oceania Strategic Plan.

The FIBA Oceania Congress considered one major item of business relating to the dissolution of the current independent organisation FIBA Oceania. Supported unanimously by the members, FIBA Oceania will now reconstitute directly under the banner of FIBA to fall into line with the reorganisation of the sport globally.

New Zealand’s Burton Shipley was elected as incoming President of FIBA Oceania and will be supported by a new Board consisting of Scott Derwin of Australia, Tony Thompson from Guam, Thierry Durand from New Caledonia and Deborah Shoniber from the Marshall Islands. All members will commence their roles in August.

President Elect Shipley said “I am honoured to be entrusted with this responsibility and I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue to give back to basketball after all this great game has offered me”.

Retiring FIBA Oceania President Bob Elphinston congratulated Shipley on his election by saying “Burton Shipley was a strong candidate for President with his extensive background as a player and administrator in our sport along with his business and public life experience. He will serve all of the 21 Federations in the Pacific well with a strong commitment to advancing the game of basketball”.