SEVERAL of the mining town’s top junior basketball players will take centre stage this Saturday when New Ballers Basketball Club, in collaboration with World Access Promotions, stages an All-Star night, featuring Slam Dunk, three-point and two-ball contests as well as an East versus West game. The Mackenzie Sports Club hard court will be the venue for the event that Anthony White of World Access Promotions is calling an appreciation for the upcoming stars of the game in Linden.
Details of the teams and participants are not yet known since according to white, the two coaches, Floyd Martindale (East) and Claude Williams (West) are yet to release the names.
However, he pointed out that West side team should have the likes of sharpshooter Chris Williams and point guard Marlon Pollydore on their roster while the East would see national junior captain Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai, former Junior national Guard Orin ‘Six heads’ Rose and Jeffrey La Rose on their string of players.
“Last year which was the first year was big and I think this year will be even bigger because the players have all matured in the game even though they are still juniors and in some past competitions here (Linden) they all excited the crowds who turned out, so I think that it will be good night out,” White said.
Linden, like many other parts of Guyana, is experiencing sporadic rainfall but the organisers said that they are not deterred by the weather and are optimistic that the sun will be in favour of them.
Rose is the defending three-point shootout champion while Michael Rose is Slam Dunk king. Asked if both players will be on hand to defend their titles, White assured, stating that the players have already indicated their willingness to participate in the event that only have trophies as prizes.
Trophy Stall, BM Soat, Waaldijk Scrap Iron, 20/20 Sports Bar and Power Car Rental are among the many persons and businesses that are sponsoring the event.