Triple-header on today

THE stage is all set for the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Linden YBG Regional Schools Under-19 championship, which bounces off today with a triple-header at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Six schools, Mackenzie High, Harmony Secondary, Christianburg/Wismar Secondary, Linden Technical Institute, Wisburg Secondary and New Silvercity Secondary are involved in this championship which has attracted major sponsorship from Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG).

This tournament will be used also to select the top three teams for this year’s National Basketball Festival to be hosted by the YBG from June 24 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, two days after the completion of the Linden Regional final.
Additionally, beverage giant Banks DIH has also thrown its support behind the LABA Secondary Schools basketball competition with its Powerade and Aqua Mist Water for the players for which secretary Joe Chapman said he was grateful.

In fact, the Linden Regional championship has a tight schedule of eight playing days starting at 13:00hrs when Mackenzie High face Christianburg/Wismar Secondary.
That will be followed by the Harmony Secondary versus Linden Technical Institute at 14:30hrs, with the third game featuring New Silvercity Secondary against Wisburg at 16:00hrs.

The YBG is collaborating with LABA for the championship which will continue on Monday and Wednesday with triple-headers.
Following that, the remaining playing dates will be double-headers almost every other day until the tournament final is played the following Friday June 22 at the tournament venue.
The LABA official also was quick to thank the MSC management committee for the support in making the venue available for the tournament at short notice, in the interest of promoting the sport at the youth level.

Chapman mentioned that the Regional Education Department of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), without hesitation, gave its blessings to stage the tournament which will provide sport competition among the schools.
On Thursday, YBG handed over its sponsorship package which included two basketballs, one pair of nets, the championship trophy and an undisclosed cheque to assist with the operational costs for the championship.

Secretary of the LABA, Joseph Chapman, said he was very heartened by the assistance given by YBG, which has demonstrated over the years its willingness to further the promotion and development of the sport particularly at school and youth levels.”
Director of YBG noted that his organisation felt it necessary to come on board with LABA, as “the best persons to do basketball at the regional level are the associations, as they can also involve the clubs to assist the schools to develop the school players”.