North Am Basketball kicks off Sept. 2

North Am Basketball kicks off Sept. 2

All systems go! And the countdown begins. All roads, so to speak, lead to the popular Toronto HoopDome and 4 arenas to play, experience and enjoy North American Filipinos communal predisposition towards a thrilling ballgame competition—the 24th NABA Inter-City Basketball Tournament which is being competently hosted by North York Pinoy Athletic Association (NYPAA) of Toronto, Canada.

The annual basketball fest is to be held during Canada’s Labour Day long weekend on September 2, 3 & 4, 2011 at the Toronto HoopDome – Downsview Park, and four other game sites in North York at 1) Bayview Glen School (Duncan Mills Road ), 2) Crescent School(Bayview Avenue), 3) Armenian Community Centre
(Hallcrown Place), and St. Timothy Catholic Church (LeithHill Drive)

Founded in 1987, NABA or North American Basketball Association is comprised of 21- member cities with competing teams from the United States : Central Jersey, Detroit, Glendale Heights, Jersey Shore, North Jersey, Philadelphia, Queens-Long Island, Staten Island-N.Y.,& Washington; from Canada: Brampton, Mississauga, Montreal, Newmarket, North York, Scarborough, Toronto, Vaughan, Windsor, Winnipeg, & York; and London, U.K.

Popularly known at promoting basketball as a major sport for the Filipino communities in Canada and the Eastern United States, NABA is headed by Commssioner Ron Damasco, MD. Held and hosted annually on rotation basis between Canadian and USA member- cities, the premier tournament this year, has 24 participating city delegations—21 members and three guest teams. Other notable NABA leaders include: Deputy Commissioners Frank Pendon (Canada) & Dr. Sonny Albano (USA) and Executive Advisers Gani Gregorio (Canada) & Larry Albano (USA).

With 125 participating teams, there is a total of 230 games scheduled at the 3-day tournaments. NABA tournaments currently use a format that divides players into 10 age divisions: Tykes (under 11), Peewee (under 13), Bantam (under 15), Juniors (under 17), Girls (under 17) Juveniles (under 20), Men’s Open, Women’s Open, Seniors (35 and over) and Masters (45 and over).

FIDO, a leading communications provider, is the designated 2011 Tournament Sponsor. “Live Game Result” at least every two hours will be posted at www.nypaa.ca, courtesy of FIDO network (www.fido.ca) . The NABA Host Committee is composed of NYPAA president Vilma Tahsin and community sports leaders Bob San Juan, Ed Sotto, and Roger Tarca,

The schedule for the 3-day yearly event includes the following main activities:

•September 2nd, Friday: Welcome Night Reception, Miss NABA 2011 Pageant and selection of Best Team Uniform at Westin Prince Toronto Hotel, 900 York Mills Road, North York.

• September 3rd, Saturday: Double elimination games at selected venues: HoopDome, Crescent School, Bayview Glen, Armenian Youth Centre and St. Timothy Catholic School.

• September 4th, Sunday: Championship Games, Awarding and Closing Reception at HoopDome.

It is expected that the 2011 NABA competition experience will produce higher degree of sportsmanship, collegial fellowship, and solid, if not enviable co-operation and understanding amongst all the participants: players, coaches, spectators, officials, families, and the North American Pinoy communities…for the love of the game…“basketbol”

(Tony A. San Juan)