The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Helsinki Basketball Academy, with nine returning players, is back for the second edition of the Bahamas Basketball Federation’s Tip-Off Classic this weekend.

And although there has been a change in venue from the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to the Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road, assistant coach Hanno Mottola said they are here to put on a show.

“We’re very excited to come back. It’s a very important event on the calendar for us,” said Mottola, who is working along with head coach Jukka Toljala. “We’re looking forward to the games and hope that our guys play well.

“We know that there will be some college and NBA scouts here, so that’s a big reason why we are here. We want to be able to get them the exposure that they need, so we hope that they play very well.”

Mottola said they sympathise with the Bahamian people as they go through the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, which has forced the BBF to move the games from the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium to Loyola Hall.

“We would have liked to play in the main gymnasium, but we understand the situation,” said Mottola after their first practice session yesterday.

“We know it’s out of the tournament organisers’ hands, so we’re prepared to play here.”

As there is not an official high school league for them to play in Helsinki, Mottola said their players get to play in the second league of their pro basketball league where they are currently undefeated in the three games played so far this year.

Before they begin to play on Friday in the tournament that will run through Sunday, Helsinki will get in a scrimmage today at 3pm against the CI Gibson Rattlers at their gymnasium.

“We had a long trip to get here, but after tomorrow (today), we will see how prepared our guys are to go for the three games this weekend,” he stated. “We are looking forward to it. We are going to play a fast tempo and so hopefully we can shoot the ball. We will share the ball and play aggressive defence. We will use the open shots that we have. We want to look like an unselfish team that plays good defence.”

Last year, Helsinki finished fifth in the league after they made the trip here. Mottola is hoping that they can improve on their performances this year when they return home to continue their season in November.

They will join the Northfield Mount Herman, Putnam Science, Hargrave Military, International Sports Academy, NBA Latin America, Ridley College, Rise Academy and Orangeville Prep, who are all coming to play and will play against the New Providence and Grand Bahama All-Stars teams.

The games will begin at 9am on Friday and continue through Sunday. A total of six games will be played each day. The entry fee is priced at $10 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 17.