Bequia Basketball launched

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The Twelfth Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament bounced off Saturday July 10th at the Clive Tannis Hard Court on Bequia with twelve teams parading in their colourful uniforms, to a warm reception from the Bequia community. Visiting team from the mainland Calliaqua United also joined in the auspicious ceremony, which celebrates twelve years of basketball competition on Bequia, under the leadership of Sabrina Mitchell. Team Young Duke was adjudged and awarded a cake as the Best Dressed Team 2010.

President of Bequia Basketball, Mrs Sabrina Mitchell addressed the teams along with several other dignitaries including Hon Loraine Friday, Representative for the Northern Grenadines, Mr. Herman Belmar, Director of Grenadines Affairs, Mr. Teddy James, Chairman of the National Sports Council, and Mr. Cleophas Glynn, President of the SVG Basketball Federation, who attended along with General Secretary Darron John. The feature game of the evening saw hosts Bequia All-Stars defeated by three points to the visiting Calliaqua United 60 to 57!

President of the BBA, Mitchell warmly welcomed the visiting team, and welcomed back the Mustique team to the competition, after a few years absence. She spoke proudly of several changes that the Executive Committee have for this competition, including the acquisition of a pair of new wirelessly controlled Daktronics 24 -second shot clocks, which, at a cost of $6000, represents another new investment for the Association designed to improve the quality of the game played, and the commitment to channel all revenues back into the growth and development of basketball. She also thanked Mr. Carlton James, and the National Sports Council for their continued support and their promise to finance some badly needed repairs to the entrance gates of the Clive Tannis Playing Field, and reported that work upon is set to begin very soon. She tanked all sponsors for their social commitment to the young people despite the difficult financial times, recognized Karib Cable’s representative Delissa Skeritt, and welcomed them as a sponsor of Bequia Basketball for the first time.

She spoke of the success of the young divisions, which act as a feeder system for the older divisions. The tournament will see the debut of a new team in the Second division, the Wizards, coming out of the Young Wizards Under 16 division. She reiterated the Association’s commitment to grow basketball, and urged all parents of young children in Bequia who want their kids to play to get in touch with the Executive, who will provide the youngsters with uniforms, coaches and a team to play on. Speaking on behalf of the Sports Council, Mr. Teddy James expressed his pleasure at being a part of the event and gave the commitment of the National Sports Council to the development of sports in Bequia as an important and positive avenue for our youth, their health and well-being. Mr. Herman Belmar of the Grenadines Affairs office gave recognition to the leadership of the Association, whose management of the sport was exemplary! Hon. Loraine Friday echoed those sentiments and expressed his acknowledgment of the administrative skills of the tournament organizers, and suggested that their model should be emulated not only in Bequia, but also nationally. Mr. Cleophas Glynn of the SVG National Federation thanked Coach Junior Sutton, for his recent success in the Windwards Tournament as Coach of the Men’s National team bringing Team SVG home victorious. He also commended the Bequia Association for twelve successful years and wished them continued success.

Registered teams as follows: Under 16 Division has two teams Young Wizards and Hornets. Second Division has four teams with Wizards, Young Blazers, Rising Stars and Young Duke. The first Division has six teams with Duke, East Blazers, Bequia Tech Rising Stars, Mustique Icon, Warriaz and Gladiatorz.

The tournament runs until August 29th, with games every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.