By Emmerson Campbell
Executive members of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) yesterday launched the GABA Basketball League for 2012 and also presented trophies to the top three teams in the Banks DIH Limited 2011 tournament.
At the launching and presentation of trophies ceremony which was held at Thirst Park Sports Club, President of GABA, David Carto, said that the league will include 14 teams and will bounce off on February 18 at the outdoor Burnham Basketball Court.
According to Carto, the teams will play a round robin format and the top eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals. Games will be played on Saturdays and Sundays at 18:00 and 17:00hrs respectively. He also noted that as the league progresses, GABA will look at the possibility of hosting games at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Carto disclosed that he has received oral commitments from three big corporate entities to sponsor the tournament and said that their names, along with a full tournament schedule, will be released on Friday.
He said that the teams will be vying for cash prizes along with basketball gear.
The GABA president stated that the league will possibly last for three to four months and will be made up of the following teams: Ravens, Pacesetters, Knights, Maccabees, Pepsi Sonics, Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Nets, Patriots, Colts, Guardians, Eagles, Panthers and two other unnamed teams from the West Bank of Demerara.
Carto also said that the association will be holding fundraising events such as barbeques and take-away lunches at the same venue with the games.
He added that the games will be officiated by referees from the Guyana Basketball Officials Council and said that he was looking at the possibility of having a game and shot clock installed at the venue for the tournament.
Meanwhile, representatives of Ravens, Panthers and Pepsi Sonics clubs, received their trophies for placing in the top three of the 2011 Banks DIH tournament.
Soriah Clarke, who is the assistant coach of the Ravens Basketball Club as well as GABA’s secretary, received the winning club’s trophy, while captain of Panthers, Olotunde Griffith received the first runner-up trophy. Co-captain of Pepsi Sonics Rawle White was on hand to receive his club’s third place trophy.
