Defending champions the Commonwealth Bank Giants are expecting a 'bumpy ride' en route to the finals of the annual Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) National Championships.
Head coach Perry Thompson is preparing his team for what he calls 'a rough tournament'. The national championships will tip-off today in Bimini. Six male teams and three female squads have confirmed their participation. Thompson and the Giants will have to ward off teams from Grand Bahama, Bimini, Eleuthera, Abaco and Andros if they plan to win their second consecutive crown. The female squads will represent New Providence and Grand Bahama.
"This year is going to be great," said Mario Bowleg, first vice president of BBF. "There are a lot of people coming in from Grand Bahama and Nassau because there is a political rally in Bimini. They are working with us, trying to ensure that there is no conflict or clash, where we can [have] the best or greatest support. With the island being in a buzz we expect great fan support, especially when the Grand Bahama and Bimini teams match-up. Even in the regular play there are going to be some great match-ups that are going to bring some much needed fan support, which will lead up to a big championship game. Who knows who will be coming out of the pools."
The Giants are hoping to emerge as pool winners. They are in Pool B with Andros and Eleuthera. The teams from Grand Bahama, Bimini and Abaco are in Pool A.
This is the first national championships being staged under the new administration. Charles 'Softly' Robins was elected last year. Topping his agenda was Family Island development. According to Bowleg, the federation is well on track.
He said: "This one is the first that we have had in a long time. In the past we were only able to get five male teams but now we have six which is a slight improvement. We look to expand and attract more teams as the time goes.
"This is one of the major things that the administration has hoped for, that is to get more Family Island teams involved. And the development of basketball has been good. The support of more Family Island teams partaking in the nationals prove already, that the initiative that the federation has taken to visit more islands and to ensure that basketball in each island association is being played is already a small accomplishment of what we want to do."

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