The Solomon Islands is gearing up to make history as host of the inaugural FIBA Melanesian Cup 2025, with organizers reporting smooth progress in welcoming four competing nations for the basketball showdown set for October 13-18 at Friendship Hall.
FIBA Melanesian Cup 2025 Chairlady Gloria Hong shared updates with local media, highlighting the event’s readiness despite some logistical tweaks.
Hong outlined the accommodation plans, prioritizing comfort for the delegations.
“Most teams will be accommodated at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Campus, while Fiji will be resided at Henderson Sky Residence,” she said.
“Accommodations for New Caledonia and PNG are still pending due to their flight schedules, so we are yet to get confirmation. But most participating teams will be accommodated at SINU.”
Tickets will be sold at a flat rate of $20 across all ages, aligning with Friendship Hall’s seating limits.
“The ticket price ensures compliance with the available seats at the game venue,” Hong explained.
“At the moment, we try to sell a total of 1,300 tickets because we have two grandstands with 750 seats per grandstand. We have been looking at selling 1,500 tickets, but since we will be having VIPs and officials watching the games, we will reserve a total of 200 seats for them, including the teams. That’s why it’s very important to grab a ticket in time to be able to secure a seat.”
Tickets will be available Monday through Saturday.
“But we will only stick to the total of 1,300 tickets per day, which caters to the venue capacity,” Hong added.
“During the selling of the tickets, there will be a tent available at the entry of the venue for selling tickets, but if the 1,300 tickets are sold, then all seats are sold out.”
Safety remains a top priority, blending professional oversight with community involvement.
“The venue has its own security firm responsible for looking after the venue,” Hong noted.
“We will increase the number of securities, basically involving the volunteers who will be engaged in the event. At the moment, we have 30 volunteers who will deploy around all required areas of support, from logistics and catering to other areas. We will also reach out to the RSIPF for further assistance just to manage the crowd from over-excitement.”
Hong expressed confidence in delivering a flawless debut for the host nation.
“I don’t think it may turn bad,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, teams from Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu are slated to arrive between 10 to 12. October.
The tournament promises high-stakes Melanesian rivalry, with games unfolding over six days at the iconic venue.
Organisers are fine-tuning every detail to ensure a seamless experience for players, officials, and fans.
