The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) officially launched the Road to Mecca III national club championships yesterday at the 704 Sports Bar on Lamaha and Albert Streets.
GABF President Nigel Hinds during the feature address said that the entity is committed to the development of the sport.
“It is important that we keep the sport at a very high standard. We’ve done so for both Mecca I and Mecca II, so we look forward to a competitive championships,” he said.
According to Hinds, the event will be used for the selection of the national team and for the possible tour of the Washington D.C. Jammers basketball team later in the year.
The event, which runs from March 4th-19th at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, will feature 16 teams from the Linden, Berbice and Georgetown Amateur Basketball Associations.
The top eight finishers from the previous edition were automatically selected while the other eight clubs were selected based on their respective association level performances.
The lower ranked teams will compete in the opening round against the top ranked sides in the traditional knockout format.
Defending champions and number one ranked unit Pacesetters will lead the Georgetown contingent with Colts (2nd), 2014 winner Ravens (5th), Plaisance Guardians (7th), University of Guyana (UG) Trojans (10th and Republic Bank Nets (11th), the other teams.
Retrieve Raiders (3rd) is the highest ranked unit from Linden with Victory Valley Royals (4th), Half Mile Bulls (6th), Amelia Ward Jets (9th), Bankers Trust Falcons (14th) and Block 22 Flames (15th) the other competing teams.
The Berbice contingent will consist of Smithfield Rockers (12th) and New Amsterdam Warriors (13th).
Winner of the championship will pocket $$500,000 and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed sides will receive $250,000; $150,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side, prizes will be awarded to the event’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and finals.
