SANCTIONS reportedly made by the governing Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) on Retrieve Raiders power forward Dwayne Roberts and Amelia’s Ward Jets centre Shane Webster will not take effect when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA)-sanctioned Victory Valley Royals 8-Team Knockout Basketball championship starts next Friday in the mining town of Linden.

The two Linden players, along with the other members who made up the 12-member team to the last Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) in the British Virgin Island of Tortola were reportedly slapped with varying fines and suspensions for not returning their respective playing gear and uniforms.
When LABA met with its clubs at a General Council Meeting last Friday, the matter was raised on the eligibility of Roberts and Webster as it relates to their reported suspensions and fines.
Secretary of the LABA Joe Chapman reported to the members that while the information was circulated to the press one day after the GABF’s Ordinary Meeting on July 26, nothing was received by the association or the club and the players in question.
The LABA official said, “the association will not condone players being undisciplined, but at the same time there was not any official document about any player being suspended or fined from the GABF, and we want to know if procedures associated to the allegations against players were followed.”
Chapman opined that while the association is not going to uphold indiscipline there must be procedures to arrive at decisions which will affect the players, their clubs and associations. He said it was reported but to date nothing is with the association. Chapman said he was puzzled to know how an entire team could be so undisciplined knowing the nature of some of these players reportedly suspended and fined.
Chapman also wanted to know which committee dealt with the allegations and queried if the players were given a hearing.
He said that the 8-team Victory Valley Royals tournament will be followed by the annual Trophy Stall Regulation Open League championship and the clubs will conclude their registration and affiliation with the association tomorrow (Monday) so that the fixture for the knockout tournament could be drawn.
The LABA secretary said he was told that there were several issues which have not been addressed relating before, during and after the CBC Championships to what eventually resulted in the players not returning their uniform and kit.
However, Chapman indicated that standing operation procedures (SOP) must be followed with the players asked to lead a defence. Whether the players were told of this is another matter.
LABA president Mr Haslyn Graham, a vice- president of the GABF was among four executive members at the Ordinary Meeting, who deliberated on reports from the GABF management team to the championship and made the decisions. But Chapman noted Graham was acting on behalf of the federation and not LABA. The federation has not met at the General Council level since elections earlier this year.
Retrieve Raiders, Kings, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Wismar Pistons, Bankers Trust Falcons, Wismar Pistons, Block 22 Flames and Half Mile Bulls have all shown an interest in participating in the Victory Valley Royals knockout tournament and the draw will be done after the relevant registration of players and club affiliation tomorrow at the MSC Lounge.