By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

GABRIEL White received his FIBA referee license becoming the first NMI referee to do so.
In an email to the Variety, Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands secretary general Michael White said his son received his FIBA badge at a FIBA clinic held during the XIII South Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa last month.
The elder White added that Gabriel is one of only 27 referees in Oceania to hold a FIBA referee’s license, which allows a referee to officiate FIBA-sanctioned tournaments around the world.
“Gabriel can now referee at any and all FIBA competitions, including but not limited to the Olympics and the World Championships,” White said.
“Obviously, the selection of referees for these events (Olympics/World Championships) is limited to the best referees in terms of ability and experience, and Gabriel will have to work his way up the ladder. We do expect that Gabriel will be assigned to future FIBA events in Oceania, which generally include qualifying competitions between Australia and New Zealand for places in world championships,” the BANMI official added.
Gabriel is one of only four Islanders who earned a FIBA referee license. The three others are Ramsie Joab of the Federated States of Micronesia, Navitalai Naivalu of Fiji and Jubilee Kuartei of Palau. The fifth referee to get a FIBA badge in Samoa was New Zealand’s Timothy Brown.
According to Michael White, prior to Gabriel’s membership in the elite group of referees, only two Islanders hadFIBA referee licenses and neither is still active.
He added that of the 27 FIBA- licensed referees in Oceania, 20 of these are from Australia, and three are from New Zealand.
“My wife, Rose, and I are very proud of Gabriel’s achievement. He worked long and hard to earn his license, and I know he is looking forward to working at future FIBA events in the Oceania Zone and elsewhere,” Michael said.
Gabriel was included in the NMI delegation to the Apia Games. He officiated in basketball competitions in the quadrennial meet.
Last year, he was also a referee in the Micronesian Games, which the NMI hosted.