Mackeson launches Smooth Moves 3-on-3 tournament
DISTRIBUTORS Ansa McAl yesterday officially launched their Mackeson Smooth Moves nationwide Basketball tournament, which is set to bounce off on October 2.
The event, which will be played using the 3-on-3 format, will afford the winners a chance to attend the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend in Orlando, Florida, and it was announced at the launching that the winners also have the option to trade-in their trip for a cash prize of GY$1M.
Troy Cadogan, the Company’s Marketing Executive, expressed the entity’s commitment to sports and added that Ansa McAl is certainly looking to make the event one of the most memorable basketball tournaments and entreated players to come out and give support.
He added that with games being played across Guyana, it is hoped that the sport is resurrected and called on fans to support as well.
“It’s my pleasure to bring you this event,” Cadogan said, adding “we at Ansa McAl will be looking forward for a memorable event. I know for a fact that the prizes will be enough to bring persons out. As a matter of fact, we have already gotten a few teams entering, so, teams have started to get together already”.
President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), David Patterson, again expressed his delight for having such a tournament played locally, especially since the sport’s world governing body (FIBA) is currently marketing the shorter format of the game as the means of reviving basketball.
“This tournament is very important to us because this is something new being introduced and we are happy that Ansa McAl through Mackeson has come on board to pioneer this event,” said Patterson.
Vice-president of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), Rawle Toney, said that the hosting of the event comes at a critical time for the sport of basketball, especially in Linden, so he believes the games will be well attended by both spectators and competitors.
“Basketball is at a critical state in Guyana and I must say in my community, we in Linden had battled for a long time having no playing venue and now, upon its completion, it’s a pleasure to have this event being hosted there.
While we know that the sport needs more than a life-saver right now, we see this tournament as a spark to that recovery and I trust that it will be played in the spirit of the game,” Toney said.
Meanwhile, Cecil Chin, president of the Guyana Basketball Official Council was on hand to explain some of the rules and added that next weekend, a workshop would be held with the officials and players to have them properly understand the rules of the 3-on-3 format of the game.
Ansa McAl also disclosed that the event, though sponsored under an alcoholic beverage, will not be open to players under the age of 18.
Registration forms will be printed in the various newspapers along with the different drop-off points around Guyana.
“Six Mackeson crowns is all it takes to enter; and when you think of it, it’s like they will be playing for free,” noted Cadogan.
Second-place winners will pocket $300 000 and third-place $100 000. Each zone winner will also receive a cash incentive.