Dr. Anthony was delivering the feature address at the fourth installment of the competition which tipped off yesterday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Some 26 teams drawn from 22 schools around the country will compete in three categories; the Beharry Under-15 championship, the Digicel Under 17 championships and the Spite Under-19 championships.
“I think it is only right that you students play with the desire, discipline and passion to win every game and play like if every game is the final, since this way you are saying thank you and showing gratitude to the sponsors,” Minister Anthony declared.
He said he was pleased with the way the tournament was organized and asked that discipline prevail in keeping with the growth and high standard of the tournament.
Banks Marketing and Sales Executive, Carlton Joao, said that his company had come on board again this year under its sprite brand because it was popularly associated with basketball.
The beverage Sprite, he pointed out, also has one of the world’s most talented youngsters in the game in LeBron James as its poster boy.
Joao asked that the players try to emulate James, not by his skill, but by the discipline and sportsmanship that he shows in the game.
Organiser Chris Bowman thanked the sponsors for coming on board again this year in a bigger way which he says shows that the tournament was becoming more popular and had drawn a bigger crowd of participants this year.
“I want to thank all the schools for coming out to this year’s championship and I’m asking that you let discipline, fair play, a mutual understanding, respect and discipline prevail throughout the competition,” said Bowman.
Also on hand was Director of Sports, Neil Kumar.
Kumar told the students that a core of players from the tournament would be shortlisted to represent Guyana in basketball at the second round of the 2009 Inter-Guiana Games to be held in Suriname in October.
The teams were greeted by a delegation of government officials, organisers and sponsors following a cultural display. The tournament started in 2006 under the guidance of Bowman.
St. Rose’s High School won the inaugural tournament while Kwakwani Secondary School took the title in 2007.
The following year they were dethroned by the Linden Technical Institute (LTI).
The National Sports Commission (NSC), Street Solutions and Next Level Entertainment (NLE) are the sponsors of the tournament.
