The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BEFORE the attention shifts to international play this summer, the battle for local basketball supremacy and the bragging rights of national champions will be decided when the Bahamas Basketball Federation hosts its marquee event.

The BBF recently announced the Bernard “Bunny’ Levarity National Round Robin Tournament at the A F Adderley Gymnasium May 1-3.

Levarity, who was elected to the Grand Bahama Sports Hall of Fame posthumously in 2013, was an icon on the Grand Bahamian basketball scene as a player, administrator and official.

Eugene Horton, public relations officer of the BBF, has indicated that a huge fan support is expected to descend on New Providence with one objective, to determine which island fields the best basketball team in the country.

Horton also revealed that teams are expected from Grand Bahama, North and South Andros, Abaco, Eleuthera/Harbour Island, Bimini, and the host island, New Providence.

This year’s round robin will also feature a junior or division two along with play from women’s teams throughout the country.

The festivities surrounding the tournament will also include a “Steak-Out and Beer Fest” on May 3 at the Tom “The Bird” Grant Park, adjacent to the AF Adderley Gym.

BBF executives will release the final schedule for the tournament in short order as they complete final adjustments headed into the weekend.

In the 2013 edition of the tournament, the Mailboat Cybots completed a dominant season in fitting fashion when they claimed the national title with a 91-90 win over the Mega Hit Stars out of Grand Bahama.

Ernest Saunders flirted with a triple double to earn MVP honours with a team high 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

In division two, Keno Russell was virtually unstoppable in leading Reach Out Ministries to a 113-92 win over Andros. Russell scored a game high 46 points.

There will be a new champion crowned in the “A” division as last year’s title holders, the Cybots, were defeated in the NPBA championship series by the Commonwealth Bank Giants in seven games. The Giants will go on to represent New Providence in the round robin.