Highlands Open Basketball Championships

The third Highlands Open Basketball Championships were played over the long weekend in Goroka from the 21st - 24 th July 2006. Thirteen teams from the Highlands region and one team from Madang traveled in for the four day tournament. Goroka was represented by four teams. The Goroka Reds which were the seniors and the Whites who are the Under20 development team. The Whites boys gave the Reds a run for their money by winning the quater finals by 1 point, but in the play offs, the red's experience saw them through to earn a spot in the finals.

The Whites boys had to play defending champs of 2004 and 2005 KSS Souths to get into the finals to meet the reds. The grand final was between the Reds and Whites and after a tough three quarters, the boys in Red through head coach Ella Kaipu saw the boys bag the win by 64 - 29 points. Third place ent to KSS South and fourth pacing to Jigs Souths of Mt Hagen.
In the women's games Goroka Reds played off with Madang Summit ladies and in the first quarter, the Summit ladies were leading by 5 baskets. Goroka had to regroup and came back firing to take out the first place with 50 - 39 points. MAjor Sponsor of the tournament was Nestle through their MILO brand and MILO player of the tournament went to Under 20 Jacobeth Uyassi in the Goroka Reds and MILO male player of the tournament went to Sherick Wally also Under20 in the Goroka Whites. MILO Best and fairst went to Negere of KSS Souths and Miss Sape Under20 of Madang Summit. MILO Referee of the tournament went to Timothy Thomas and MILO Coach of the tournament went to Harry Hane. The organizing committee would sincerely like to thank Nestle through their MILO brand their generous support and looking forward to working with them in 2007. Other sponsors we also like to thank are SP Goroka, Colgate Goroka, Brian Bell Goroka and Guard Dog Security.
The Goroka Basketball Association is now planning to send the Under20 boys and girls to the Under20 tournament in Rabaul later in the year. The team is already in place and traing will begin after a week's break.