During the meeting on Saipan which hosted the FIBA Oceania Basketball Tournament last month, the FIBA Oceania Board approved the final list of players, coaches, referees and administrators from 13 member countries to be recognized as “movers and shapers of the basketball in Oceania.”
A member of FIBA Oceania Board, White together with the Basketball Association of Northern Marianas in which he is also a long time secretary, took the lead in organizing the Ocenia basketball tournament from June 21 to 26.
Honoring the 40 shapers of Oceania basketball high lights the 40th anniversary celebration of Oceania’s recognition as member of FIBA family.
It’s has been 40 years since Oceania became a FIBA zone.
White and 39 other shapers were selected by the 21 member federations who were invited to submit names of people who have made a significant contribution to basketball in their country or in the region over the last 40 years.
The committee composed of Al Ramsay, the father of FIBA Oceania, FIBA Oceania president, Barbara Wheadon and FIBA Oceania Secretary General Steve Smith nominated them to the FIBA Oceania Board.
Aside from White, also recognized were Tab Baldwin of New Zealand; Florence Bundu of Papua New Guinea; Pero Cameron of New Zealand, Ronnie Chavez of Tahiti; Ken Clifford of Australia; Sir Lauce Cross of New Zealand; Cedrick Cudby of New Zealand; Graeme Davey of New Zealand; Bob Elphinson of Australia; Merv Ems of Austraila; Larry Fejeran of Guam; Angelo Francoise Eloccie of New Caledonia; Lindsay Gaze of Australia; Andrew Gaze of Australia; Jon Hoyle of Australia; Patrick Hunt of Australia; Ed Imo of American Samoa; Giff Johnson of Marshall Islands; Tom Joumkalop of Papua New Guinea; Frank Kyota of Palau; Lorraine Landon of Australia; Brigitte Langamazino of Tahiti;Gloria Lango of Vanuatu; Fred Lavaki of Papua New Guinea; Stuart Manwaring of Australia; John Martino of Australia; Gordie Macleod of Australia; Glynis Miller of Fiji; Bob Pelkey of Guam; Lawrence Quan of Solomon Islands; Alistair Ramsay of Australia; Bob Staunton of Australia; Kazuki Sungino of Palau; Michelle Timms of Australia; Ken Tupua of American Samoa; Bob Tuxson of Fiji; Robert Vautrin of New Caledonia; Pierre Villant of Tahiti and Michael Whippy of Fiji.
Each of them received a commemorative plaque from FIBA Oceania and a copy of the 40 years souvenir publication marking the milestone in the sports group’s history.
