Level 1 FIBA coaching course also on agenda
EIGHT first division basketball clubs from within the Linden, Berbice and Georgetown sub-associations are set to participate in the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) National Club Championship which is set for April.

According to a release sent from the Federation’s General Secretary Ian La Fargue, the teams selected were chosen based on their rankings issued by the Associations.

Ravens, Courts Pacesetters, Maccabees and Beepat Scorpions are the teams coming from Georgetown while Pistons, Kings and Victory Valley Royals were selected from Linden. New Amsterdam Warriors are the lone team from Berbice.

The teams have already been placed with two groups; in group ‘A’ Georgetown’s number one club Ravens are matched with the Kashif and Shanghai Kings, N/A Warriors and Maccabees and in Group ‘B’ Victory Valley Royals, labeled as Linden’s number one club will face off with Courts Pacesetters, Beepat Scorpions and Pistons.

A date in April is not yet known and when contacted General Secretary La Fargue said that he was “awaiting a word from President David Patterson for further information of the tournament”, adding that “the objective of this competition is to determine the top first division club in Guyana – this competition will be staged annually commencing this year”

Basketball has been at a lull in both Georgetown and Linden as both associations are seeking to get their houses in order; however the city has seen more play than their counterparts with whom they share a rich history of rivalry with.

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) is presently at the phase of electing a new executive body to take the game forward because since mid last year, no competitive basketball has been played.

In Berbice, one known competition was played with that being the recently concluded Mash Basketball Tournament.

Meanwhile, the release sent by the GABF also noted that in conjunction with the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) the Federation will be hosting a level 1 coaches certification clinic.

According to the release, the dates, April 22-25 are tentative, adding that “the FIBA coaching certification is the internationally recognized standard for basketball coaches worldwide; currently there are only three Level 1 certified coaches (Abdullah Hamid and Robert Cadagon) in Guyana (one of whom resides abroad).”

The federation is hoping that the clinic will be attended by all head coaches of the registered basketball clubs from its sub-association.

“Additionally the clinic was specifically scheduled during the Easter School Holidays as to provide coaches of school basketball team the opportunity to attend. The GABF also wishes to encourage former basketball players who are interested in sharing their knowledge with the new generation of players to also register to attend” the release said.

Successful participants of this clinic will be able to sit for Level 2 certification during another clinic scheduled to be conducted in Guyana on August 12 – 14.

Those desirous of participating in the clinic are ask to contact the GABF General Secretary on Telephone #640-0512 or email: mailto:gybasketballfed@gmail.com