Clarke has high hopes for Spartans B'ball Fiesta

PRESIDENT of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Glyne Clarke, praised the organisers of the second annual Spartans Basketball Fiesta for the initiative, and said the event can grow into a more regional competition in years to come.

The second Spartans Basketball Fiesta, which began on Friday and ends today at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo, features boys and girls in the Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 age groups.

Clarke, speaking with Newsday yesterday said, "Just to see the number of kids both boys and girls actually playing in wholesome sports and developing basketball is pleasing to the eye."

Clarke said club teams throughout the Caribbean are eager to compete in tournaments such as these. "A lot of countries are looking for competitions, not necessarily national team competitions, but those who have club teams are looking (to compete). This would be an excellent event that they could come to and participate. It is short, so it is not expensive like going to the US or going to Puerto Rico."

Clarke said the Fiesta is following the International Basketball Federation's (FIBA) mission of more participation which will lead to more quality players.

"One of the mandates of FIBA is to increase participation and part of it is developing stars. This is one such way that NBFTT (National Basketball Federation of TT) through Garvin (Warwick president of Spartans Sports Club) and the Spartans community can work to enhance and promote that goal of creating stars and increasing participation in basketball."

In some of the results yesterday, Spartans defeated BCBA 29-8 in an Under-16 boys match, Edinburgh 500 fell 22-0 to Maloney Pacers in an Under-14 boys contest, Enterprise outlasted St Francis College 12-7 in an Under-14 boys match and BCBA defeated Enterprise 22-7 in an Under-14 girls encounter.Some of the sponsors of the event are Gatorade, Milo and Republic Bank. The Fiesta continues today from 9 am.

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