By Robert Balajadia

FIBA Oceania President, former FIBA President, Bob Elphinston and FIBA Oceania Secretary General David Crocker visited the Tiyan gym Tuesday afternoon to observe the facility as a reconstruction project has been proposed to restore the gym. Both Officials are here part of the ONOC meetings currently taking place all week at the Leo Palace Resort.

The gym was used as a shelter during Typhoon Pongsona in 2002 and never got back to form. The Guam Basketball Confederation plans to restore the gym, with the help of the community, which will give Guam Basketball a proper training facility.

Both Elphinston and Crocker were optimistic after their tour of the gym while both agreed that the structure of the gym grants a wide range of possibility and needs a great deal of support from the community, government, and olympic committee.

FIBA Oceania President Bob Elphinston exams the weight room and back entrance. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

“First of all, this place is structurally sound. There will be a lot of work that needs to be done, but also importantly there is the funding aspect. FIBA Oceania is prepared to assist but there is not a lot of money in our facilities fund. Clearly they need to get support from the government or olympic committee because this could be a wonderful opportunity as a basketball training center,” said Elphinston.

FIBA Oceania Secretary General David Crocker discusses plans with Guam Basketball Confederation’s President Tony Thompson. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

“It’s great to see there is a vision for this solid foundation. It’s a great opportunity to galvanize support from the community and even FIBA ourselves. We too need to get in behind this venture and make this vision come to reality. Doing the tidy is an ambition that we can deliver on,” commented Crocker.

Guam Basketball Confederation’s Tony Thompson, Sid Guzman, and Jon Lujan led the tour for the FIBA officials and explained the steps they are going to be taking to restore the facility.

The first order of business would be to restore power back to the gym. Then the implication of flooring and backboards would then be need inserted while also finding a way to gain control of the gym by closing it to prevent further vandalism.

The restoration process can be done optimistically between 8-12 months. A weight room and FIBA office are also in the planning of the gyms restoration.

PHOTO GALLERY:

FIBA Oceania President Bob Elphinston reacts upon entering the Tiyan Gym. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

FIBA President Bob Elphinston examines the outside of the gym. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Guam Basketball Confederations Sid Guzman, Jon Lujan, and FIBA President Bob Elphinston discuss the first steps of the restoration project. (photo by Robert Balajadia)