Shown are scenes from the 2015 Sprite Basketball Tournament . The South Central Dicision won the overall title and the Southwestern Division finished second. (Photo: Caribbean Bottling Company)

For the eighth year in a row, Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), the local producer of Coca-Cola products has partnered with the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) to bring together the nine districts of New Providence in an annual Sprite Basketball Tournament. For four weeks, young men from across the island will work together in teams to win the coveted title of "Sprite Basketball Champions", while learning new skills in a friendly, safe environment.

"Over the past eight years the Sprite Basketball Tournament has become a highlight of the summer camp, with the kids excited to compete and get involved in the tournament. This program not only allows us, as the police body, to pass on valuable team building and basketball skills to young men, but it also helps us to foster relationships with these young men, which is invaluable," said Inspector Johnson of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. "Caribbean Bottling Company has been such a wonderful partner, working with us every step of the way, and literally none of this would be possible without their continued support."

Cara Douglas, CBC marketing manager, said: "The Sprite Basketball tournament was created by Caribbean Bottling Company as a way to offer support to the neighborhoods across New Providence that we serve. In 2008 each of the individual districts were looking for corporate support for their summer camps, and we saw an opportunity to bring the districts together around a positive event, basketball, and the next year the Sprite Basketball Tournament was born. Caribbean Bottling Company rightly believed this would foster a deeper relationship between the young men, their communities, and the police department. This tournament is a safe and supportive environment for young men to participate in each summer, and we are so proud to continue to support it with the Royal Bahamas Police Force."

Each summer for the past eight years, Caribbean Bottling Company has supported the tournament by organizing every facet, ordering uniforms, putting together the end of tournament celebrations, handing out giveaways, prizes, and ensuring that at each event children are fully hydrated with Sprite, Powerade and Dasani Water.

The 2015 Sprite Basketball Tournament Champions were the South Central Division, and the Southwestern Division finished second. Renard Bridgewater was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Asher Scavella walked away with the 2015 Sprite Sportsmanship Award.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian