Bequia Basketball Tourney opens tomorrow

The 13th edition of the Bequia Basketball Tournament bounces off tomorrow afternoon from 5:30 at the Clive Tannis Hard Court.{{more}}

Fourteen teams are to be part of this year’s tournament. Five will compete in the First Division four in the Second Division and six in the Under-16 Division.

First Division, champions Duke face competition from Bequia Tech Rising Stars, East Blazers, Warriaz and Gladiatorz, with Wizards, Young Blazers, Young Duke, and defending champions Rising Stars 2 seeking honours in Division Two.

Three new entrants, Hawks, Titans, Rockets, join existing teams, Hornets and Young Wizards in the developmental Under-16 Division.

The debutants will be outfitted courtesy the Bequia Basketball Association. They are the products of the developmental programme carried out by coaches Michael Peniston and Keylon Edwards who have been working with the young kids for the past year teaching them the fundamentals of Basketball.

Anticipation is also high in the First Division, as Cregg Friday and Craiglee Sam, both at school in Taiwan, are home for the summer holidays and who will be playing in the competition with the Bequia Tech Rising Stars.

Bequia Basketball continues to see development in all facets of the game. Also new this year, the tournament will see three new young referees in training under the watchful eyes of FIBA Referee Shem Ollivierre. The trio are Anthony Sargeant, Lamont Gordon and Colson Peters. The addition of three new referees will bring the number of Bequia referees to eight.

Tomorrow’s Opening Ceremony will include formal addresses from officials, and the March Past, from which the Best Dressed team will be awarded a cake.

The Bequia All Stars and a select team from mainland St. Vincent will play the opening match, an exhibition affair.

The Tournament runs until Sunday, August 28, with games every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.