YOUTH Basketball Guyana (YBG) yesterday launched its 11th National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. “The Championship has grown from 18 teams participating in a single elimination tournament in 2006 to over 50 teams playing in four divisions (Under-14, U-16, U-19 and Girls) and six regional zone tournaments,” said YBG head Chris Bowman, while addressing the media and the event’s sponsors DIGICEL, Banks DIH and Beharry Group of Companies.
The regional tournament will bounce off on April 15 with matches being played across Guyana, while the respective champions will do battle July 2-10 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Meanwhile, the tournament’s sponsors all expressed their delight at once again being part of an event that gives the nation’s future players a platform to showcase their talents.
It is eight even years since both DIGICEL and Banks have been partnering with YBG to pull off the event; it is Beharry’s second.
DIGICEL’s Events and Sponsorship manager Luanna Abrams said that it is the continued growth and development which emanates from the tournament that draws her company each year to the championship.
She noted that the NSBF is the lone competition that allows players as young as six years old to have a place to be seen. She pledged DIGICEL’s continued support.
Troy Peters, Banks DIH’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), echoed Abram’s comments and believes that with the help of other corporations, the tournament will be sustained.
Director of Sport Christopher Jones said that the National Sports Commission (NSC) is also happy to be a part of the tournament this year which will see it branded under the ‘50 Shades of Sports’ Initiative for the country’s Golden Jubilee Celebration.