Lae to host b’ball event

THE National Souths Basketball League is attracting more interests for this year’s 16th tournament set for Lae.
League president Silas Nicky said new teams from Southern Highlands, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, Morobe, Madang and Hela have shown interest to field both male and female teams this year.
“This year we have new teams showing interest in the likes of Kuare Kagua Souths, Riwi Ialibu Souths, Black Sambo Erave Souths, Wulure Souths, Imbonggu Souths, Chimbu Souths, Goroka Souths, Lae Souths, Hela Souths and Madang Souths,” Nicky said.
“These teams will be fielding both male and female teams.”
He said the teams that joined last year were City Rangers, Miyawala (Port Moresby), Giru Hagen (Mt Hagen), Usano Sura Souths, Lakers (Kutubu), Munjal, (Mendi), Epari Kuare, Sumale (Erave), Kondo East (Jiwaka) and Tribes Coffee Souths.
“The number of teams interested in this tournament has increased from last year’s event so we will have to reduce it down to 20 teams per division (male and female),” he said.
“A total of 40 teams will be divided into four pools (A-D) for each division to allow the technical officials to create the draws.
“The affiliation fees remain the same from last year, K1,000 per team or K2,000 for a club fielding a male and a female team,” Nicky said of the requirements.
Meanwhile, he said following the conclusion of the tournament, they would launch the National Basketball League PNG semi-pro competition.
“The objective of this new league is to give a chance to our upcoming basketballers back in the village to bring the standard up to the next level and we can have strong and balanced players representing our provinces and country as a whole,” Nicky said.
“I am appealing to all brother presidents and sponsors, let’s put our hands together and support this new league because it will be the first of its kind in the country.”