The Marty Handson Scholarship Program was a three-month program implemented in partnership with FIBA and Basketball Victoria to prepare coaches and develop their skills for the upcoming tournaments across our region including the FIBA Oceania U17 Championship and Pacific Games.
The Marty Handson Scholarship Program has concluded with Marlene Lumabi from the Northern Mariana Islands and Siale Bain-Vete from Tonga were selected as the scholarship recipients.
Bain-Vete and Lumabi will both travel to Victoria as part of the scholarship and spend 10 days immersed in the Basketball Victoria system. From grassroots development programs, junior programs, NBL1 trainings and game day experiences, the scholarship will provide both participants with the opportunity to learn from a variety of coaches.
Marty Handson
Marty was deeply involved with basketball from an early age and became a leader in our basketball community. Marty was employed as the Basketball Victoria Country NITP Head Coach from 2005 to 2010, before that he had been involved in coaching from a young age and never forgot where he came from Morwell in Gippsland.
Marty achieved so much for Victorian Country Basketball, from winning the first ever Victorian Country Gold medal for junior males at the National Championship in 1990, to developing athletes and coaches across all levels in the basketball community. He was also recognised and respected within Basketball Australia and FIBA Oceania, travelling internationally to deliver programs, sessions and clinics.
Marty was a fiercely loyal country person, who would argue vigorously for Victorian Country athletes and coaches at the National level and ensuring that our best were given every opportunity to succeed.
Marty passed away in 2016 at the very young age of 56 and is remembered in so many ways in the basketball community across Victoria, but particularly for his ability to open up opportunities and create pathways for athletes and coaches, due to his development of an extensive network in Country Victoria and his passion and drive to succeed.
