Dribble, Pass, Shoot, Score! – IBF 3X3 finals gets underway
– “I encourage you to be competitive, play hard, represent your country and self” – GABF President
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, October 20, 2018
The finals of the second edition of the Antilles International Basketball Foundation (IBF) 3X3 Hoops tournament got underway today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
After having won their qualifying matches, eight boys’ teams and seven girls’ teams from Guyana and the islands in the Antilles will be going head to head for supremacy, over the weekend.
Host country Guyana will battle against St. Lucia, Aruba, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Martinique, Guadalupe and French Guiana. The under-18 tournament is being coordinated by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and features both male and female teams.
President of GABA, Nigel Hinds said that the tournament presents a platform where athletes can develop both academically and athletically. “I encourage you to be competitive, play hard, represent your country and self as best as you. Remember the benefit from the endeavour is to learn and develop from the process” he told the basketballers.
Vice President of the Caribbean Basketball Association, Patrick Haynes said that he is looking forward to good sportsmanship and a clean competition from the teams.
The aim of the tournament is to develop basketball in the Caribbean region.
“The International Basketball Foundation along with FIBA’s regional office is dedicated and committed to producing quality championships in the Caribbean region. Our main objective is to develop basketball and to bring people together to unite our communities and make basketball the most popular sport in the world,” Haynes stated.
The first game tipped-off at 2:00pm today and concludes at 10:00pm this evening.
Games commence at the same time tomorrow; in the end, one male and female team will be crowned Hoop champions.
Aside from the competitive games, there will be a skills contest for girls, a three-point contest for both males and females and a dunk contest. Admission is free.
By: Isaiah Braithwaite
Images: Jameel Mohamed