Latest update December 20th, 2024 4:27 AM
Jun 30, 2012 Sports
– NCBL officially launches series
By Edison Jefford
It was supposed to have been a run-of-the-mill tour aimed at giving local players some exposure against guys that played college ball in the United States and now play professional basketball in other parts of the world, but somehow the rationale changed for Guyana.
The Washington D.C Jammers have always given local ballers the right exposure of playing with players who have knocked on the doors of the NBA. Before now, Guyana has stood in awe of an immensely talented team that has an average height of 6’7” for forwards.
Before now because somehow that admiration has changed to competition,
and when Guyana go into their first game against the D.C Jammers tonight they will feel that they can beat a team that will certainly take some extra skill, expertise and effort to overpower.
The National Community Basketball League (NCBL) inaugural International Weekend jumps off tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 7pm when the Brooklyn/Queens Bulldogs face the NCBL All-Stars team in the first game and D.C Jammers take on Guyana.
The event was launched yesterday at the Princess Hotel where a number of basketball buffs and enthusiasts gathered to officially usher in the event that will have the patronage of NBA Legend, Walter “Wali” Jones, who will be conducting a workshop from 11am today.
Jones has worked for 17 years as a member of the Miami Heat Organisation. The NBA Legend said he is in Guyana for the youths, and he is all about discipline. He added that ‘team work can make dreams work,’ giving some insight into his usual motivational demeanour.
He emphasised the importance of education, adding that through basketball, coaches should have it in them to motivate players to read extensively. Jones said that is one of the only ways that the players can continue to improve their skills that will holistically benefit the sport.
Meanwhile, Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, lauded the efforts of NCBL and thanked Jones and the foreign teams for coming to Guyana. He appealed to the public to come out and support the event, which he said was a good step in the development of basketball.
EZjet Operations and Customer Service Manager, Rosalinda Rasul, said youths getting involved in sports is one of the best ways to keep them off the streets, highlighting that many distractions face youths today and sport is one of the ways of keeping them positively engaged.
Coordinator of the event, Kwame Mentore, stated that the event is an effort to elevate basketball at the national level in Guyana. He hopes it will produce a level of competition that will enhance and further propel the sport to greater methods of development in Guyana.
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