'A' division schools' basketball begins today
Anuradha Abeysekera
The 55th under-19 'A' division Basketball Championship will dribble
off its preliminary round matches today at five different venues in
Colombo. The Sri Lanka Schools Basketball Association (SLSBA) in
collaboration with national governing body, Sri Lanka Basketball
Federation (SLBF) will stage the tournament with a first ever main
sponsorship from Pan Asia Bank.
Pan Asia Promotions and Sales Support Manager Anushal
Ambawatte handing over the sponsorship token cheque to SLSBA
president and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Balika Vidyalaya
Principal Dammika Jayanetti. Picture by Geeth de Mel. |
The elite boys' and girls' teams will battle it out for the Pan Asia
Challenge Trophies. This was revealed during a press briefing at the
Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya Auditorium yesterday.
Turning a new page in Sri Lankan basketball history, SLSBF took the
initiative to conduct both boys' and girls' 'A' division tournaments
together offering an exciting season for both players and spectators.
After completing Zonal competitions all over the Island, altogether 20
boys' teams and six girls' teams have lined up for the big show.
As the annual top class school fraternity championship , the
organizers have made arrangements to host the tournament on a grand
scale and both segments' semi finals matches will be played at the Henry
Pedris courts giving the public a chance to catch the excitement of top
class school basketball this season.
Speaking to the Media, Sirimavo Principal and SLSBA president Dammika
Jayanetti said basketball is a game that helps to enhance teamwork and
build personality in youngsters and is equally popular among girls and
boys at the school level.
She thanked the sponsors, Pan Asia Bank for supporting this year's
tournament.
The boys segment will work out in four groups to the round-robin
format where the top two of each group will move on to quarter finals.
The venues for boys' matches are Royal College (group A), St. Peter's
College (group B), D.S. Senanayake College (group C) and St. Joseph's
College (group D). Girls segment two groups, A and B will be worked off
at St. Joseph's Girls' School courts, Nugegoda.
SLSBA Tournament Secretary Charles Perera said Pan Asia has supported
for a special award to be given for the Best Player in each and every
match from the preliminary round. Apart from the Best Defensive Player,
Best Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player awards, a Most Popular
Player award has been introduced and will be determined after a voting
contest through internet.
All players wishing to participate in MPP contest are requested to be
registered through SLBF website for the Most Popular Player contest and
the voting will be eligible till the finals are concluded.
SLBF Vice President Yaswanth Muttettuwegama, SLSBA Secretary Rev.
Bro. R.J. Jayakanthan, Pan Asia Promotions and Sales Support Manager
Anushal Ambawatte, Masters In Charge of participating schools and media
personnel were present at the press conference. |