Tahiti back on track?

The Tahiti national team missed the last South Pacific Mini-Games in Palau last summer because of financial issue, but a good news came from Papeete: Tahiti intends to field both a men and a women team in the upcoming Oceania Youth Tournament in 2006 in New Zealand.

Twelve federations with both men and women teams have expressed an interest in participating in the FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament in New Zealand from 15th-21st October. With only 8 positions available per tournament, federations are reminded of the deadlines for further action to ensure their participation. Federations are reminded that the tournament is for players aged 20 years or under in 2006, and that FIBA eligibility rules in regard to nationality will apply.

Preliminary list of the participating countries: Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Vanuatu.
New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji are almost sure to play in this tournament so the last 8 countries would compete for the 4 remaining spots.

Almost locks:
New Zealand, Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji
Five teams for the last spots:
Guam, Tahiti, Samoa and Papua New Guinea, American Samoa
Out of contention?:
Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands