Bequia Basketball Tournament bounces off

The 13th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament bounced off on Saturday, July 9, at the Clive Tannis Hard Court in Port Elizabeth, Bequia, with fourteen registered teams in three divisions: First, Second and Under 16.{{more}}

Following the traditional march past of teams and inspection by dignitaries, which included Dr. Loraine Friday, Representative of the Northern Grenadines; Nelson Hillocks, Director of Sports; Shiyana Valentine, Director of Adonal Foyle’s Kerosene Lamp Foundation; Cleophas Glynn, President of the National Federation; and Ms Sabrina Mitchell, President of Bequia Basketball and Secretary General for Caribbean Basketball, there were some brief remarks.

Mitchell spoke of the growth of Basketball on the small island; testimony of this being the addition of thirty-six new young players, aged eight to fourteen, on three newly formed teams, the Hawks, Rockets and Titans, who will be playing in competition for the first time.

Mitchell credited this development to the efforts of coaches Michael Peniston and Kelan Edwards, who have established a successful weekend programme for children during the past year, which has attracted a huge turnout of eager new athletes. Mitchell proudly stated that Bequia Basketball partnered with the coaches in sponsoring the children, by providing their uniforms, coaches and managers, to ensure the development of already vibrant Under-16 Division.

She stated that the hoops would be lowered and the duration of the game adjusted to create a better opportunity for the little ones to acclimatize.

Mitchell used the occasion to urge families and friends to support the young players as they embark on the start of a healthy lifestyle.

On the downside, Mitchell spoke of her disappointment that more business places don’t see the merits of supporting our young teams, as few teams are lucky enough to have sponsors and players struggle to fund their own uniforms every year. She commended Bequia Tech and Managing Director Warren Campbell for being the exception, with their sponsorship of the Rising Stars First Division team, and also W and W Supermarket in Paget Farm which assisted the Second Division Rising Stars.

Glynn gave some inspirational messages to the players and congratulated the Bequia Association for being one of the best organized sporting organizations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Caribbean.

Second Division Team Wizards was adjudged best dressed team.

Calliaqua defeated the Bequia Team 81 to 79 in the exhibition match which followed. Games are played on Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The proposed climax date of the tournament is August 28.