to bounce off tomorrow in Linden
WITH over $1m up for grabs, the Ansa Mc Al Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 countrywide basketball tournament will bounce off tomorrow, at the newly refurbished Mackenzie Sports Club hard court in Linden from 16.00hrs. Ansa Mc Al’s Beer and Beverage Brand Coordinator Nigel Worrell said the general talk is most of the players would go for the cash and then the NBA lock is here as well, so, we will push the $1M first prize and if the season restarts and there is an All-Star event and the players chose to go, we’ll still have that open for them, just as initially planned”
Meanwhile registration has already begun to pour in and as a means of further gaining interest to the tournament, Ansa McAl will be hosting a Smooth Moves road show which will be held today and tomorrow in Georgetown and tomorrow in Berbice and Linden respectively from 16.00hrs each day.
The Road Show, according to the organizers, is designed to be another means of players gaining information about the tournament and to also have a try-out at the 3-on-3 format of the game.
With the sport’s World governing Body FIBA now regularizing 3-on-3 and turning it into a global sport where it would help to reintegrate players and spectators with the game, the Ansa McAl along with the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) are hoping for major turn out.
A gala opening is planned for Mackenzie Hard Court, where Ansa McAl will officially hand over to the MSC management, the newly constructed dressing room area. It was also said that several persons who have made sterling contributions to the sport of basketball in Linden will be honoured as well.
After Linden, the following weekend, games will next be played in Georgetown at the Burnham Basketball Court and Albouystown; Buxton on the East Coast and in Berbice, the New Amsterdam basketball Court and matches are also set to be played in Bartica, Anna Regina.
With six caps and your registration forms, a team of four players will have a chance to cash in the fabulous prizes and a chance to be crowned the first ever Real Smooth 3-on-3 Champions.
The rules of the competition states that the games will be played for 15 minutes with two halves of seven and half minutes each, with a 30 second time out in each half.
A team must consist of four players, with none being under the age of 18 and the organizers have warned that strict rules are in placed if a team is found with such player, since it’s an event that’s being sponsored under an alcoholic beverage and as such, there’s a law that prohibits minors from participating.
Each basket beyond the arc (three point line) will count as two points and inside will count as one. The first team to reach 21 points even before the 15 minutes of play will be declared the winner, while a four fouls limit per player rule will be in effect with substitutions being made when the ball is dead.
Unlike the usual game, one referee will be in charge along with one person responsible for keeping the times and scoring, with the ball being given to the opposing team after every point scored.
A work shop featuring officials from Linden, Georgetown and Berbice was held last weekend, where the rules were revised and cemented and also, the referees were made aware of the difference in play between 3-on-3 and the regular game of basketball.