The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN a few short years, the Temple Christian Suns basketball tournament has been established as one of the top preseason tournaments for primary school basketball programmes in New Providence.

The fifth edition of the event tipped off yesterday at the Temple Christian Gymnasium featuring a field of 12 teams - eight boys and four girls.

Suns head coach and tournament director Keno Demeritte said the the event came about as a need to find more opportunities for the youngsters to play in an organised competitive atmosphere.

“This tournament is important for the development of basketball in the country because this group, the younger kids who should be playing the most, they don’t have too many opportunities to showcase their skills and to play in a tournament that’s well put together,” he said. “We have schools from every sector, government and private so they get good competition. It gives a lot of the teams a chance to sharpen their skills and the coaches get to see what they have when they head to the bigger events like Father Marcian later in the year.”

His Suns traditionally protect home court and have been perennial contenders for the tournament titles in both divisions, and Demeritte said he expects his Suns to overcome some tough competition.

“It is early but the first day has been real exciting. I think the level of competition is really high on both the boys and girls side. We see more that there is no clear winners of the tournament. Any of the teams could win the tournament. “Carlton Francis is always a tough challenge and other teams I’m sure will be a factor before it’s all said and done. St Cecilia will be tough, Kingsway and others so we expect some great basketball over the next few days,” he said.

“I think my teams have what it takes to win it all this year. We have worked hard at it and I have told them over and over that it won’t come easy. The teams are fundamentally sound, we know what it will take and we have that killer instinct this year to get it done.”

The tournament continues today at the Temple Christian Gymnasium and is scheduled to conclude on Friday.