The basketball court at the National Gymnasium comes alive tonight as the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) Elite 16 tournament tips off with a doubleheader.
At 7:15 pm, the action starts with New Amsterdam Warriors going head-to-head against Colts, setting the tone for a night of intense competition. Following that, two Georgetown teams, Ravens and Nets, will take the court in a showdown that promises edge-of-your-seat excitement.
The clash of the Elite 16, the GBF said, serves as a perfect warm-up for the highly anticipated One Guyana Basketball League, which will bring together Guyana’s basketball best under one banner.
“The GBF Elite 16 tournament is designed to showcase high-quality basketball across all GBF associations,” GBF President Michael Singh stated ahead of the opening tip-off. “With players from Bartica, Linden, Georgetown, and Berbice in the mix, this tournament will sharpen competition and elevate the game for the upcoming season.”
A champion will emerge from this battle of the elite, earning a $300,000 winner’s purse. Second-place finishers will pick up $100,000, third-place take home $50,000, and the tournament MVP will be awarded $25,000 for their standout performance.
The tournament schedule is stacked with must-see matchups: on November 6, Eagles will face off against GDF, followed by Kobras taking on Block 22 Flames.
November 9 brings a doubleheader, where Mambas will battle KK Untouchables, and Victory Valley Royals will go up against Bartica.
The action continues on November 13, with Amelia’s Ward Jets set to take on Pacesetters, followed by Retrieve Raiders clashing with Trojans.
On November 16, the winner of Game 1 will face the winner of Game 3, while the victors from Games 2 and 4 will square off.
Advancing further, the winner of Game 5 will meet the Game 7 victor, while the winners from Games 6 and 8 will battle on November 20.
The semi-finals tip-off on November 23, leading to the grand finale on November 30.
Singh expressed confidence in the players’ readiness, highlighting, “This tournament primes our senior players for ongoing competitive play through 2024 and into 2025. After the One Guyana League, we’re gearing up for Mecca 6, a critical platform for national team selection for international events.”
