TONIGHT, top-tanked Half Mile Bulls will be in action when they face the Amelia’s Ward Jets in what should be a tough affair from 21:00hrs, while in the first game at 19:00hrs Block 22 Flames and Retrieve Raiders will square off, as day two of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA/104.3 Power FM Mash Open basketball championship, which began last night, continues at the tournament venue, the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.When the tournament was launched last Saturday, president of LABA, Lawrence Simon, expressed his thanks for the sponsorship saying, “I must say how happy I am with the turnout, as we mentioned we want to be disciplined. However, I said, we have to lead by example.”
Simon noted that “sponsorship is hard to come by especially in Linden and it is a challenging thing”. He said, “I just want to urge you to come out and support as usual.”
Owner of the 104.3 Power FM radio in Linden and the majority sponsor, Haslyn Graham, was pleased with the confidence shown by the association but urged that the clubs do their best to please the fans.
He said, “This is 104.3 first tournament in collaboration with LABA, and we are hoping as much as possible to help develop basketball in the community.
“As a former president, I also recognise some of the areas of weaknesses and having a tool like the radio station is a major plus in the line of development towards promoting basketball.”
However, Graham stressed, “I personally do not want to look at basketball in general as a money making venture. If we always have to look at it, it must be to let the sport be the winner.”
At the launching at the Mackenzie Sports Club Lounge in the presence of the participating clubs the championship trophy was handed over by Graham to the president of LABA Lawrence Simon while the other trophies were also on hand for the second, third and Most Valuable Player winners.