FOLLOWING their emphatic victory over Colts, the energetic quartet comprising Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney, Jermaine Slater and Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai,  playing out of the Ravens Basketball Club as The Pitbulls,

walked away with the top prize of G$1M, in this year’s Ansa McAl’s Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
They had defeated a Colts lineup that consisted of veteran forward Dane Kendall, Stephon ‘Penny’ Henry, Shelroy Thomas and Tyrone Hamid in the final last Saturday night at the California Square basketball court in East Ruimveldt.
At a simple presentation ceremony held in the boardroom of the sponsor yesterday, Public Relations Officer of Ansa McAl, Darshanie Yusuf, and their Marketing Director Troy Cadogan expressed their delight at the way the competition was successfully organised and executed.
Said Yusuf, “This year, the tournament was an exceptional one. It was a pleasure watching you guys do your thing on the court, the moves and plays were fabulous to watch and I wish to say thanks to you for providing such entertainment and when you make it big, feel proud to know that Ansa McAl through Mackeson assisted you along the way.
Cadogan told his audience that included players from the victorious team, Colts, last year’s champions Pacesetters and Mahaica’s Cool Move teams, that he is appalled at the present standard of basketball in Guyana, while saying there were more teams battling for supremacy in the 3-on-3 tournament.
“This year we had more teams than the previous year and certainly the standard has begun to lift among the 3-on-3 league, which is good for the tournament.
“However, I’m a bit disappointed at the still standard of the form of basketball that is being played, with little third division action, no second division while I think there is a first division, but it is not consistent and I would like to see the game being played at all levels of yesteryear,” said Cadogan.
While the victorious quartet from last year’s tournament looked forward to attending the National Basketball Association (NBA), Cadogan said the lockout that occurred between the executives of the NBA and the NBA Players Union, prevented such from occurring hence the G$1M cash prize was introduced for the tournament.
All the respective zone winners of the tournament, namely Den Amstel (West Side), Full Chips (Berbice), Cool Move (Mahaica) and Pitbulls received monetary awards, while Pitbulls, Colts and inaugural champions Pacesetters received their cash prizes for their first-, second- and third-placed finish respectively.