Hagen gears up for basketball tourney

 
.By YVONNE HAIP
PREPARATIONS are underway in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, as it gears up to host the country’s biggest basketball tournament.
With five weeks left until the National South’s Basketball League (NSBL) championships, executives have vowed to make this year’s games “bigger and better”.
Tournament director Simon Dixie said dates had been set at May 18-20, with affiliation fees for all interested teams at K500.
This is the tournament’s 5th consecutive year with a growing interest to take part by all Souths basketball clubs throughout the country.
The tournament gives Souths clubs a chance to meet and compete and is seen as a way to unite basketball players from Southern Highlands.
Just when the code in the country was seen to be stagnating, Mendi MP Pr Isaac Joseph is backing the event as its patron.
His initiative is supported by the Southern Highlands provincial government, the National Gaming Control Board, Oil Search Ltd, and the CIVPAC group of companies.
NSBL president Silas Nicky said last year’s games in Madang were a huge success, but this year would be even better with a record number of teams expected to attend.
He called on the Western Highlands provincial government to support the games as this competition was a first for Mt Hagen, which has not hosted a major basketball tournament.
He also called on the national basketball federation to send representatives to attend the games as NSBL was promoting basketball, a sport which has been struggling to gain new fans.
Teams wishing to affiliate can pay the fees through the NSBL Bank South Pacific account number – 1003 574 637 and to fax the receipts to 542 1886 and attention it NSBL tournament director Simon Dixie.
More information can be obtained by contacting Nicky on 7112 2366, Dixie on 7388 1511, games manager Timothy Mako 7219 4255 or treasurer Paul Pulako on 7219 5253.
Mt Hagen-based BNM Souths, Hagen Snax Souths, Original Souths, Kondo Souths and Petro Souths are already into training, while Port Moresby Hela Souths and Goroka’s Snax Souths are expected to take part.
Southern Highlands teams Mendi Menjals, Pesaps Souths, Hela Souths, Erave Souths, Kawaso Souths, Oro Souths, Pimaga Souths, Sura Dabogo Souths, Hekari Souths, Gesege Rocky Souths, Sembirigi Souths (Moro), Pangia Souths, Mendi Undiri Souths, Kambiri Souths, and Sugu Valley Souths of Kagua have expressed interest.
The defending champions (men) are the Pesaps Souths.