The Marshall Islands Basketball Federation registered its Men national team to play in the upcoming South Pacific Games which will be held in late August in Samoa, unfortunatly the country will be unable to send the Men team in Samoa due to financial reasons. Two other eary entrants had to withdraw like the Marshall Islands: Micronesia and Northern Marianas Islands.
The Marshall Islands Basketball Federation registered its Men national team to play in the upcoming South Pacific Games which will be held in late August in Samoa, unfortunatly the country will be unable to send the Men team in Samoa due to financial reasons. Two other eary entrants had to withdraw like the Marshall Islands: Micronesia and Northern Marianas Islands. Finally, 10 teams will compete in the Men tournament.
SPG Men tournament - Participating countries: American Samoa Cook Island Fiji Guam New Caledonia Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tahiti
Early entrants who will not participate: Micronesia Marshall Islands Northern Marianas
This summer, the Republic of the Marshall Island was playing in the 2006 Micronesian Basketball Tournament in the Northern Marianas Islands. The team was close to play in the Gold medal game but came back home with a deserved bronze medal. Let's make a recap of the marshalleses performances there.
This summer, the Republic of the Marshall Island was playing in the 2006 Micronesian Basketball Tournament in the Northern Marianas Islands. The team was close to play in the Gold medal game but came back home with a deserved bronze medal. Let's make a recap of the marshalleses performances there.
Results: Semifinals: RMI - Palau: 72-77 Palau started the game with a 27-18 run and the marshalleses tried hard during the entire contest to come back in the game but the palauans reached the end of the third period with a 14-point lead. A 22-13 effort in the last quarter wasn't enough to win this game. Gabriel Lait was the team's leading scorer with 20pts 6/15FG in 39 minutes, Bolear Bokna recorded 12pts 4/11FG and Jeffrey Loeak added 10pts 4/12FG 11rbs. Robert Pinho only shot 3/14 from the field and scored 7pts.
Bronze medal game: RMI - Kosrae: 85-75 This time the Marshall Island players made a better start and were leading 50-31 at half-time break, the team shot for 48.8%FG in the first half including a devastating 6/13 behind the three-point line. Bolear Bokna was the man of the day with 22pts 8/23FG, Robert Pinho made a better game than he did in the semi with 19pts 9/14FG and Gabriel Lait posted 12pts 5/13FG. Wayne Anjain ended his tournament with 4pts 1/7FG 14rbs, a perfect resume of his performances: disapointing in the scoring but precious for the team though.
Recap: After a pretty disapointing South Pacific Mini-Games tournament last year, only 4 players were back for the 2006 Microgames: Bokna, Anjain, Jotai and Stege. The Marshall Island is fueled by a great backcourt duo made of Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait. There are both similar players, great scorers with a pretty good shooting range. A special mention to Pinho who is the best real leader of this team, he only made one bad game, unfortunatly it was during the semfinals (7pts 3/14FG). On the wings, the starters are Jeffrey Loeak and Wayne Anjain while Bolear Bokna brings a great energy from the bench. Bokna is the team's third leading scorer with 12.3pts in only 19 minutes per game. The newcomer Jeffrey Loeak made a solid performance during this tournament with his good all-around skills. Wayne Anjain had an horrible tournament with his shot (27.6%FG) but he found a way to help his team being the leader in rebounds and assists. The last forward on the roster is Arry Lang who only played 3 games due to injuries. Three players shared the center position: Nathaniel Lometo, Mark Stege and Damien Capelle. The three of them combined for 10.2ppg and 10.4rpg and they are very similar, not very gifted offensively but dedicated to their team. The last players are three bench guard who were there to give some minutes to rest to Lait and Pinho: Joe Jotai, Casey Sualau and Jommy Lawin. The Marshall Island came in this tournament with a younger team and thanks to some talented players they came back home with a Bronze medal. It will be interesting to follow this team's improvement in the future with the help of some players like Faiga Tagoililagi or Jonathan Nathan.
According to Microgames Council president Bill Keldermans, Yap and the Republic of the Marshall Islands both expressed desire to host the seventh edition of the quadrennial event. The two countries, however, were not prepared to present information from their respective governments.
"As a result, we're going to give everyone until September and by Sept.
According to Microgames Council president Bill Keldermans, Yap and the Republic of the Marshall Islands both expressed desire to host the seventh edition of the quadrennial event. The two countries, however, were not prepared to present information from their respective governments.
"As a result, we're going to give everyone until September and by Sept. 30, we should know who will host the Games," he said during an interview yesterday.
Keldermans explained that if Yap or the Marshall Islands are not awarded the Games, it will most likely be held in Palau or Guam.
The Marshall Islands was in the same pool than Guam and was hoping to clinch the second place ahead of Yap and Pohnpei. Despite an opening loss to Guam, the Marshall Islands managed to bounce back and secured a berth in the semifinals. Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait has been the offensive leaders of this squad while Wayne Anjain is playing a more team-oriented game.
The Marshall Islands was in the same pool than Guam and was hoping to clinch the second place ahead of Yap and Pohnpei. Despite an opening loss to Guam, the Marshall Islands managed to bounce back and secured a berth in the semifinals. Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait has been the offensive leaders of this squad while Wayne Anjain is playing a more team-oriented game. The RMI will now face Palau in a much-anticipated semifinal contest.
Marshall - Guam: 49-63 RMI was forced to play against the tournament's favourite Guam for its first game but the game was closer than expected. Both teams were tied at 43-43 after three period with a great effort from Robert Pinho (15pts), but in the last period Jine Han led Guam to a 20-6 run and the marshalleses didn't have any fuel left in their tanks. With a short 7-man rotation, the Marhsall Islands were missing depth on the bench. Best Players: Robert Pinho 15pts, Gabriel Lait 10pts and Damien Capelle 6pts 9rbs
Marshall - Yap: 74-73 Maybe they were still tired from the Guam game but the marshalleses were very disapointing in this game, unable to deal with a pretty weak Yap squad. Facing elimination, RMI managed to stay in the game and snatched an heart-breaking one-point victory in the dying moments. The coach decided to play with a deeper rotation and everyone played at least 7 minutes. As usual Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait did most of the job but they received a great help from Bolear Bokna. Best Players: Robert Pinho 22pts 10rbs, Gabriel Lait 20pts 6rbs and Bolear Bokna 12pts 8rbs
Marshall - Pohnpei: 77-63 Both teams were playing for the last spot in the semifinals and the game was close in the first half with RMI leading only by one (36-35). Thanks to a better FG shooting percentage (39.5 vs 30.1), the Marshall Islands managed to extend their lead in the second part of the game. Gabriel Lait led his side with 23pts and Robert Pinho added 21pts. Best Players: Gabriel Lait 23pts 6rbs, Robert Pinho 21pts 5rbs and Wayne Anjain 7pts 11rbs
Prevision: The Marshall Islands did their best in this pool and managed to reach the semis, they will now face Palau. Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait were great in the pool phase but the coach might look for a third offensive weapon. Wayne Anjain, who has been more team-oriented so far, could be this player. Palau also have depth troubles so the RMI short rotation won't be a real problem. The key of this game would be the rebounds and the defense.
Last year, the Marhsall Islands finished at the 8th and last spot in the South Pacific Mini-Games, this year in Northern Marianas, they will be looking for a medal in the Micronesia Games basketball tournament. Only four players are back from last year's squad: Bokna, Anjain, Stege and Jotai.
Last year, the Marhsall Islands finished at the 8th and last spot in the South Pacific Mini-Games, this year in Northern Marianas, they will be looking for a medal in the Micronesia Games basketball tournament. Only four players are back from last year's squad: Bokna, Anjain, Stege and Jotai. The team will miss Ulualofaiga Tagoililagi but the addition of Robert Pinho and Gabriel Lait will be a major boost for the national team.
Marshall Islands NT: Arry Lang Bolear Bokna Casey Sualau Damien Capelle Gabriel Lait Jeffrey Loeak Joe Jotai Jommy Lawin Mark Stege Nathaniel Lometo Robert Pinho Wayne Anjain
The Marshall Islands Basketball Federation has received a shipment of new basketballs.
The balls are a donation from Fiba Oceania, part of its support toward MIBF basketball promotions.The balls are now being used by the RMI teams, both men and women's, who are currently practicing for upcoming Micronesian Games scheduled to take place this summer in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, reports Sporting Pulse. (Courtesy of RMI News)
The balls are a donation from Fiba Oceania, part of its support toward MIBF basketball promotions.The balls are now being used by the RMI teams, both men and women's, who are currently practicing for upcoming Micronesian Games scheduled to take place this summer in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, reports Sporting Pulse. (Courtesy of RMI News)
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has been accepted as the 203rd member of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC formally recognised Marshall Islands during its 118th session in the northern Italian city of Turin, where the Winter Olympic Games are being held. It means that for the first time, Marshall Islands athletes will be able to compete at the Olympic Games.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands has been accepted as the 203rd member of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC formally recognised Marshall Islands during its 118th session in the northern Italian city of Turin, where the Winter Olympic Games are being held. It means that for the first time, Marshall Islands athletes will be able to compete at the Olympic Games.
Of course the Marshall Islands are still lightyears away from being able to compete in the basketball olympics tournaments but this is a great news anyway for the sport in this small country. President of the Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee, Kenneth Kramer, says after 10 years of talks, it is very exciting news. "Finally the Marshall Islands will be able raise their flag and be recognised in such a wonderful movement which is the Olympic movement," he said. There are now 16 countries from Oceania affiliated to the IOC: Australia, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and now the Marshall Islands.
Basketball officials in the Republic of Marshall Islands along with hundreds of elementary and high school basketball players officially opened the 2006 Inter-Scholastic Basketball league.
The event was opened by a small ceremony held at the National Gym Educational Cultural Center on Tuesday, February 1.
Basketball officials in the Republic of Marshall Islands along with hundreds of elementary and high school basketball players officially opened the 2006 Inter-Scholastic Basketball league.
The event was opened by a small ceremony held at the National Gym Educational Cultural Center on Tuesday, February 1. RMI Secretary for Internal Affairs Wilbur Allen addressed the ceremony on behalf of Sports Minister Rien Morris. Other local and traditional leaders atttended the opening to bless the enthusiasm and interests of the young basketballers. There are 10 elementary and 10 high schools competing in the tournament.
At the first Annual General Meeting of the Marshall Islands Basketball Federation members elected officers for the next four-your term, 2006-2009. Heran Bellu was re-elected President. Other re-elected members are Daniel Andrew, Senior Vice President and Daniel Kattil, Member At Large.
At the first Annual General Meeting of the Marshall Islands Basketball Federation members elected officers for the next four-your term, 2006-2009. Heran Bellu was re-elected President. Other re-elected members are Daniel Andrew, Senior Vice President and Daniel Kattil, Member At Large.
New to the MIBF Board are: Lisa Muller, who takes up a new post in the MIBF, Vice President for Women In Development Lisa Lajwi, Secretary General Thomas Heine, Treasurer Carlton Ralpho, Member At Large.
The new Women In Development post was created as part of the MIBF's efforts to promote basketball among women in the country.
