ANTIGUA BARBUDA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Thursday 27th February 2020 (St John’s, Antigua) … On Thursday 27th February, eight of the Nation’s Junior Basketballers departed for the 3rd edition of the Antilles IBF 3x3 Hoops, taking place in Guadeloupe from Friday 28th February to Sunday 1st March.

After hosting a successful U18 3x3 National Qualifying Tournament, last year, the Association is pleased to announce that for the first time, two teams will simultaneously represent Antigua and Barbuda, after both would have successfully qualified for the upcoming Championships.

The teams, an all-female and an all-male, comprises of Miss Mary-Jane Grant, Miss Shavon Joseph, Miss Rhea Richards, Miss Jahlieshia Knowles, Mr Chance Lewis, Mr Ronde Davis, Mr Jamie Robinson and Mr Te-Ran Zachariah. The delegation will be accompanied by our National 3x3 Coordinator, Mr Gemma Hazelwood.

This year’s edition will introduce a mixed nations format where the players will be mixed, so that each team consists of four different nationalities. According to FIBA, this format allows for better interactions between the players of different countries to better overcome language and cultural barriers and helps to establish lasting friendships.

Also accompanying the delegation is Miss Athalia Ralph, another young female basketballer, who participated in last year’s competition, but this year, has been selected to take part in the inaugural IBF Youth Leadership Programme. Miss Ralph will have the opportunity to be awarded FIBA 3x3 e-learning qualifications, and also gain the knowledge and skills to assist in running 3x3 events in Antigua and Barbuda.

The 2020 Antilles IBF 3x3 Hoops, which was organized in collaboration with the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) and the Ligue Regionale de Guadeloupe de Basketball, will see countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Guyane (French Guiana), Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, and host country, Guadeloupe.

The Association extends special thanks to the Ministry of Sports, for attiring the athletes in the recently launched National Sports Wear.