Grenadines Basketball Tournament returns after five-year absence

The Digicel Grenadines Basketball Championship returned last weekend after a five-year absence and opened at the Ashton Hard Court in Union Island on November 8.{{more}}

In are Bequia All-Stars, Canouan Islanders, Mustique Icon and Union Island All-Stars.

The official opening and march past of teams took place on Saturday, when the Parliamentary Representative of the Southern Grenadines, Terrence Ollivierre, Caribbean basketball secretary general, president of the Bequia Basketball Association and tournament co-ordinator Sabrina Mitchell, as well as Digicel representative Gershom Dick addressed the ceremony.

Mitchell welcomed all the participating teams and expressed her gratitude to Digicel for their commitment to a three-year sponsorship.

She spoke of the importance of this competition to give the elite players on each island an opportunity to play at a high level of competition. She said the Grenadines Championship should be the culmination of a successful basketball programme on each island, where the annual competitions should act as a feeder system for the Grenadines Championship.

Mitchell also urged the local associations to continue to make sure competitions are held regularly and to work hard to develop the game in every aspect – in coaching, refereeing and player development.

The Bequia basketball Association president offered her organisation’s help in achieving these objectives, as they have been at it for the past fifteen years and have almost perfected it.

Also at the opening ceremony, Digicel’s representative Gershom Dick officially handed over the tournament sponsorship cheque to Mitchell, and committed Digicel to sponsorship for three years or more.

On court, defending champions Bequia All-Stars went undefeated, winning all three of their games. Union Island won two games, Mustique one game and Canouan lost all three of their games.

Bequia All-Stars defeated Canouan Islanders, 59 to 52, and edged out Union Island 50-49.

Bequia defeated Mustique Icons 64-44.

Union Island defeated Mustique 88 to 41 and Canouan, 66-42, while Mustique Icons saw off Canouan in overtime 72 to 67.

The tournament continues this weekend in Canouan and will conclude in Bequia on Saturday November 23 with the finals and trophy presentation.

The inaugural tournament was held in 2003.