Basketball action in the country is about to heat up even more, with the start of the nation's most prestigious local basketball event.
The Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) will host its Bernard 'Bunny' Laverity National Round-Robin Tournament, May 1-3, at the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium.
A round-robin tournament is a competition in which each contestant meets all other contestants at least once. The format is very fan-friendly, because most feel it's the only kind of tournament where the best team really does win, whereas in other tournaments, teams may escape playing a top team due to the allocated pools and divisions.
Players from all over the country are expected to travel to New Providence with hopes of leaving as the basketball champions of The Bahamas.
The tournament was named after long-time Grand Bahama basketball legend Laverity, who was voted into the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame last year.
This year's version of the tournament will feature a junior or a 'B' division, as well as a women's division.
Eugene Horton, public relations officer of the BBF, has indicated that teams as well as a huge fan support is expected to descend upon New Providence from the out islands with one objective, to prove that the Family Islands have the best basketball players in The Bahamas.
Horton revealed that teams are expected from Grand Bahama, North and South Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera/Harbour Island and Bimini.
Each division is expected to be highly competitive, according to Horton. "Fans will be entertained by not only the 'big boys' in the 'A' division, but competition is expected to be intense in the 'B' and women's divisions as well."
This year, the tournament will have two additional features to go along with all of the festivities on the court. There will be an all-day steak-out and beer fest held on the Tom 'The Bird' Grant Park, which is adjacent to the A.F. Adderley Gymnasium. Tickets for the steak-out can be purchased from any BBF official. Also, the public will get the first glimpse of the list of names nominated as the 'Greatest Bahamian Basketball Legends'.
The federation had the difficult task of comparing and evaluating players from each generation, and deciding who was worthy to be placed on the list. It is expected to create a lot of buzz amongst all in attendance, and spark debates of who should and should not be on the list.
The Commonwealth Bank Giants defeated last year's round-robin champions, the MailBoat Cybots, in this year's New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) finals and will represent New Providence in the 2014 BBF Round-Robin Tournament. This means that regardless of the outcome, there will be a new champion crowned in the 'A' division.

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