Anonymous
Years ago

Pacific Games a waste of time?

Anybody else think they where a waste of time ?

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Alpha
Years ago

Not to the kids (great cultural experience) and the overall objective (team build up for the world's)

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Anonymous
Years ago

first 3 games for the women's was won by over 80 points
would not a European tour or USA been better for buildup ?

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Alpha
Years ago

The world's is two years away - do you really think BA should invest all that money to send a team (or teams) overseas now and not closer to the date? It may eventually happen but not now.

You are right in terms of some games but both finals were very competitive. Gave our kids lots of confidence for next year and qualifying tournaments. Both our teams were the youngest in the tournament and it was a great pleasure to watch them play.

All kudos to them.

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Vart
Years ago

Not at all. Great cultural experience for all involved. Whilst some of the scorelines indicate blowouts, these small pacific island teams have to start somewhere. They're not going to get any better just playing amongst themselves.

Think back to the 1992 USA Dream Team who won every game by 40+ points. That forced all other countries to raise their levels of play. Fast forward 20 years and the USA team have had some close games over the course of 2008/2010/2012 Olympics and World Championships.

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Anonymous
Years ago

i suppose all the players are now locked in to Australia under the fiba rules too

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PlaymakerMo
Years ago

By winning every game by 40+, the 1992 Team USA didn't "force" other countries to improve. Thank the 'Dream Team' and basketball icons (Michael Jordan, etc) for expanding the game in a time of rapid globalization.

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Anonymous
Years ago

The level of competition was questionable for sure but it does give the kids a taste of the international game as well as representing thier country. The earlier we get them into a good environment the better. We dont want a bunch of TOMICS playing BB for Australia.

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Vart
Years ago

PlaymakerMo, perhaps the same thing will happen to a smaller extent throughout the pacific region, in terms of expanding the game.

As the largest and most well resourced country in the Oceania region, Australia has a responsibility to promote and expand the game in the pacific.

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Anonymous
Years ago

Go back 20 years ago and the pacific nations were getting beaten by 80+ points. Fast forward to 2012 and they are still getting beaten by 80+ points..... Very hard to "improve" with little resources, population etc.

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Bear
Years ago

Not a waste of time at all, so many positives and the big picture should not be overlooked or shadowed by the fact that scores in some games were lop sided.

Our teams of young 15 year olds against some players up to 19 years old were tested physically on many occasions and they showed they could cut it...

Yes, this country is blessed and we do owe it to those smaller nations around us to help promote the sport and share our cultures, which the players and officials did at every opportunity!

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Anonymous
Years ago

Yes but BA loves wasting their ill-gotten gains.

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Anonymous
Years ago

agree, Vart

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traveller
Years ago

From a purely cynical point of view, we need to remain good citizens of Oceania (correct name - not Pacific)so that we only have to beat NZ for a spot in World Championships etc. Would we rather qualify by playing against the larger, stronger Asian teams? Nup - thought not.
The bigger picture for our young players is to learn to be good travellers - eat what's provided, look after yourself between games, sleep in unaccustomed surroundings. Our national teams don't need princesses of either gender.

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Vart
Years ago

Following on from traveller's post above, I wonder if the new World Cup qualifications (Asia-Pacific) region will flow down to the junior level? Does anyone know about this, or is it too early to know?

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Anonymous
Years ago

To the great thinker who made the TOMIC comment : So it is this $hitty pacific tournament/environment that saves young players from becoming Tomics, is it ?

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Big V
Years ago

Tourny not for Australias benefit. only the benefit of the smaller nations. But they are so far behind it would be better to provide coaches for a two year period than play this trash.

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Hoops

Pacific Games a waste of time?

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