Guam's opening Asia Cup basketball qualifier against Hong Kong has been postponed due to the global coronavirus outbreak.
The US Territory were due to open their campaign away to Hong Kong this evening but basketball's world governing body FIBA confirmed yesterday the game will be now be rescheduled for a later date.
Guam celebrate winning gold at the 2019 Pacific Games. Photo: Vinnie Wylie/RNZ Pacific
Three other qualifying games featuring the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, China and Malaysia have also been postponed.
Pacific Daily News reported that the Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero denied a request to host the game against Hong Kong in the territory.
Guam Basketball Confederation president and men's national coach EJ Calvo. Photo: Vinnie Wylie/RNZ Pacific
The report said Guerrero sent a letter to EJ Calvo, president of Guam Basketball Confederation, on Monday, stating that while she supported Guam's team, she must exercise her responsibilities to keep the coronavirus off the island.
"While I am confident that the Department of Health and Social Services is prepared to handle the threat of coronavirus, I also believe that it is my duty to affirmatively minimize any risk to our people. I believe that FIBA was concerned about the prevalence of the coronavirus in Hong Kong and its people," Leon Guerrero stated in the letter.
"And while I agree that it acted appropriately to move this game from Hong Kong, I do not agree that it should have been moved to Guam. I cannot risk exposure to our people, including our Guam National Basketball Team. Therefore, I must disallow this competition at this time."
Guam will now open their qualifying campaign at home against New Zealand on Sunday.