70 secondary school from across Fiji will battle over three days in the 2026 Vodafone Fiji Secondary School Basketball Championship as Basketball Fiji looks to identify young talent and continue growing the sport in the country.
The teams are competing in the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 grades, with the championship officially opened at Yat Sen Secondary School and the finals to be held at the Vodafone Arena.
Basketball Fiji President Oliver Whippy says the competition has provided a strong platform for young players over the years, with some impressive talent emerging from the tournament.
Whippy says they hope competitions like this will continue to help basketball grow and develop in Fiji, while giving students an opportunity to showcase their skills.
She is encouraging parents, families and school communities to come out and support the players, saying spectators can expect an exciting three days of basketball and an opportunity to see some of Fiji's promising young talent in action.
While opening the championship, Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says the strong participation reflects the growing interest in basketball and highlights the important role school sports play in developing young people.
Radrodro says sport is an important part of education as it teaches students discipline, teamwork, cooperation, respect and how to make decisions under pressure.
He says basketball also teaches students how to recover from mistakes, accept the decisions of officials and continue working together as a team.
Radrodro highlighted Fiji's recent basketball achievements, including the men's gold medal and women's bronze medal at the 2023 Pacific Games.
He says Fiji's men's and women's teams later won gold at the Mini Pacific FIBA 3x3 Games and qualified for the FIBA 3x3 World Cup in 2025.
Radrodro says these achievements should inspire students and show them what can be achieved through dedication, hard work and continued development.
He has also acknowledged principals, teachers, coaches, parents, families, referees, officials, facilitators and volunteers for their role in supporting young players and developing the sport.
Vodafone Fiji is the major sponsor of the championship, while support has also been provided by Basketball Fiji, FIBA Oceania, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and programmes supported by the New Zealand and Australian High Commissions.
This includes the Basketball for Good Facilitators Workshop, which focuses on using basketball for community and social development.
With the championship being held during the school holidays, Radrodro has encouraged students to enjoy their break responsibly, remain active and make choices that keep them safe.
He has urged players to compete with courage, discipline and respect, accept both wins and losses and learn from every game.
Radrodro says while the scoreboard records the result, the character players show and the way they conduct themselves will be remembered long after the competition.
