Originally scheduled to be hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, the second edition of the Rawle Toney 3 x 3 Basketball Classic will now be hosted at the recently refurbished Burnham Court.
This was confirmed by an official release from the tournament coordinator Toney. According to the correspondence, the moving of the Mashramani Panorama Steel Pan competition from the National Culture Centre to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, forced the decision to relocate the tournament to the outdoor venue.
Toney explained, “Logistically, it would cost me more to host the event at two venues. So now both days of the tournament will be held at Burnham Court. It means that I will have to add a temporary washroom and changing area at Burnham Court.”
“Ideally, 3 x 3 is meant to be played outdoors. The Sports Hall was chosen because of the amenities that we lack at our outdoor basketball facilities. Also, taking the level of investment to bring a premium basketball event to Guyana, the Sports Hall eliminates the issue of being affected by the weather,” Toney further expounded.
The venue which has been a cornerstone for the discipline of basketball for 65 years, was upgraded by Ansa McAl and the Hennessy brand in keeping with the latter’s global community basketball initiative.
“Hennessy’s impeccable worldwide reputation was mirrored in the works of the Court with the installation of new lights, officials’ tables, brand new players’ areas, bleachers and of course a newly redone, designed-painted court”, the release stated.
The 16-team tournament will see some of Guyana and the Caribbean’s best players, vying for the tournament’s first-place prize of $500,000 and four championship commemorative gold rings.
Other sponsors of the event include Mackeson, Guyana Lottery Company, FireSide Grill, Bush Cook, Stuff, MVP Sports, FK Sports, Shi Oil, Brother’s Security, The Muse Bar, Pressy’s Gift Shop and 94.1FM are some of the other sponsors.
In addition, the historic tournament will be seen all over the world as Team Mohamed’s has decided to sponsor the video production of the two-day event.
Principal of Team Mohamed’s, Azruddin Mohamed, who has been a supporter of sport in Guyana for many years, in an invited comment, explained that he was happy to lend a helping hand. He maintained that Team Mohamed’s remains committed to not only sports but their corporate social responsibility and such a memorable occasion needs to be well documented.
