SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas) - The Club and League Competitions Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, March 16, at the regional office of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas with several important issues on the agenda and the prime objective of strengthening the national leagues and international club competitions on the continent.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Club and League Competitions Committee Mr. Kouros Monadjemi Leagues (Brazil), Vice President Juan Manuel González (Mexico), members Fabian Borro (Argentina) and observers Enrique Tolcachier (Argentina), Ricardo Vairo (Uruguay) and Carmelo Cortez (Venezuela), along with the Chairman of the FIBA Competitions Commission Eduardo Bazzi (Argentina), FIBA Americas President Usie Richards, FIBA Americas Executive director Alberto Garcia and FIBA Americas Secretary General Emeritus Jenaro Marchand.

The Committee focused its first meeting on studying the Competition System of each of the international club competitions organized by the Americas regional office (Liga Sudamericana, Liga de las Americas and Intercontinental Cup), the implementation of a communication plan with Professional Leagues of the Americas and a plan of action for supporting each of the national leagues in the continent for the establishing of a harmonized competition calendar in line with FIBA and looking forward to the new competition system set to begin in 2017.

After the meeting the Committee established short and long-term goals short including the development and promotion of basketball through clubs, the strengthening of the national leagues of the continent, and further consolidation of all the international club competitions in the Americas.

"We have a great responsibility with club basketball in our continent.", said Monadjemi. "Club competition is a constant platform in a country, it is the great workshop for national basketball and we owe special attention to its impact on the mission of the International Basketball Federation which is to grow our sport globally".

"International club competitions in the Americas have grown by leaps and bounds and the conclusion of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas this past weekend in Barquisimeto is proof of it. Of course there is room to grow and we have to always do it with the mentality of the strengthening our national leagues. All of us on this committee have experience and knowledge and we have met today with a proactive attitude in order to contribute to the betterment of basketball at the club level in the continent. This is a historical meeting; the first of many that I am sure will bring consistent results in club basketball throughout the Americas.", added the Chairman of the Committee.

The Club and League Competitions Committee concluded its first meeting with a commitment to maintain open communication channels and meet, even if not in person, every 90 days.

"It was a successful first meeting and a great opportunity to listen and share ideas with those responsible for making basketball in their respective countries. This Committee and the expertise of its members is now in session and available to assist every club competition in our continent. We have now established a work plan that has proposed activities to be implemented and that represent an important step in regards to achieving these short and long-term goals that have been set by the Committee.", concluded the FIBA Americas President Usie Richard

FIBA