GOLD COAST (Australia) – Coach development remains a cornerstone of FIBA’s strategic priorities in Oceania, supporting national federations to build sustainable pathways and elevate leadership across all levels of the game.
The 2025 edition of the Marty Handson Program delivered on this commitment by bringing together 20 emerging coaches from eight national federations through an online learning experience designed to strengthen technical knowledge, leadership capacity, and regional collaboration.
This year’s program concluded with in the announcement of three prestigious Marty Handson Scholarships: Marjorie Whippy (Fiji), Jeremiah Paia (Samoa), and Nape Waka (Papua New Guinea). These recipients are currently in Australia for a week-long immersive coaching experience coordinated by Basketball Victoria, where they will shadow elite coaches, engage in high-performance environments, and deepen their leadership capacity.
The scholarship honours the legacy of Marty Handson, a passionate advocate for coach development and grassroots basketball in the Oceania region. It reflects FIBA’s commitment to its Women in Basketball and Empowering National Federations strategic pillars, ensuring that coaches, especially women, are supported to lead, inspire, and grow the game in their communities.
The scholarship week is a hands-on journey through Victoria’s basketball ecosystem. From attending NBL and WNBL games to observing elite training sessions with South East Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne United, the participants gain first-hand insight into professional coaching environments. They will also participate in Aussie Hoops sessions, visit grassroots clubs, and engage with Basketball Victoria’s Female Development Program and National Performance Program, experiences that bridge theory with practice.
One of Papua New Guinea’s rising female coaches Nape Waka, sees the scholarship as a platform to amplify women’s voices in sport. “I'm truly humbled and honoured to be awarded the Marty Handson Scholarship,” Ms Nape said. “This recognition means a lot to me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge in basketball and further pave the way for women in basketball in my community.”
“Basketball has been my passion since I was a young girl growing up in Daigiri village (home). Wherever you go in the village, there's always a basketball court, and I was no exception.”
With the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup and FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup set to tip off this December in Samoa, many of the program’s participants will take on coaching roles with their national youth teams. The knowledge and confidence gained through the Marty Handson Program will directly impact team preparation, performance, and long-term development.
Throughout the online sessions, coaches engaged in modules on leadership, communication, athlete development, and inclusive coaching practices. The virtual format allowed for cross-country collaboration and peer learning, reinforcing a regional coaching network that will continue to grow beyond the program.
FIBA Oceania Executive Director Amanda Jenkins praised the 2025 cohort and their commitment to underpinning the future successes of National Federations.
“These coaches are the heartbeat of basketball in Oceania,” Ms Jenkins said. “By investing in their growth, with the support of partners like PacificAus Sports, we’re building stronger federations, more inclusive pathways, and a brighter future for the sport.”
With the program concluded and the scholarships now awarded, the legacy of Marty Handson lives on, not just in the names of the scholarship recipients, but in every coach who returns home ready to coach with purpose, passion, and pride.
About PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high-performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific.
For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.