The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE finale of the Government Secondary School Sports Association basketball season will be aired live on national television for the fifth consecutive year, thanks to a partnership between government and corporate entities.

The Sports Unit of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in conjunction with the GSSSA, Cable Bahamas, Colina Holdings and RBC, will ensure that the games in each of the four championship series will be seen by Bahamians across the country, broadcast live on Cabe 12.

Tip-off in the best-of-three series in each division is slated for 4pm Friday (January 30) at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium. Game two in each series is set for Monday (February 2) and game threes, if necessary, on Tuesday (February 3).

Evon Wisdom, director of the Sports Unit in the Ministry of Education, gave special recognition to the sponsors, who he said has invested heavily in young Bahamian student athletes.

“The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology wishes to thank its three sponsors, in particular Cable Bahamas who has been a major sponsor since this idea began some years ago. Cable Bahamas has invested well over $100,000 in this product and there is a lot of technical effort that goes into this event each year. Colina has increased their sponsorship this year to assist us with extra taxes we have had. They have stepped up to the challenge because they know this is a quality product,” he said.

“They have graciously provided the means for these championships to be broadcast nationally which goes a long way for the growth of these student athletes and our communities at large. We know that sports has a way of bringing communities together, and these games will indeed unite fans who will enjoy the high calibre of play of teams that made it to the finals.”

Monday will feature the “Colina half-time show” with the Urban Renewal band as the headliners.

Kevin Johnson, GSSSA president and head coach of the senior boys defending champion CI Gibson Rattlers, said the group of talented youth will surprise the Bahamian public with their skill level.

“On behalf of the GSSSA, I want to congratulate all teams that will be playing in these championships,” he said. “These series will be exciting and we expect to have a packed house. These teams are playing exceptional basketball and we want the public to support the young athletes because it’s all about building and supporting the youth of our country.”

Alexia Coakley, media operations manager at Cable Bahamas, said it is the company’s mandate to assist in the development of sports in the Bahamas and said a greater effort  in the future will be made to bring even more exposure to the other divisions and not just the senior boys.

“It’s a matter of schedule for us to be able to accommodate everyone in each of the divisions. We invest quite a bit in the setup we have there. With scheduling it is very possible that we could bring bigger features to the girls’ matches but I’m sure with adjustments we will be able to work in that direction,” she said. “The GSSSA can expect support in the future.”

The GSSSA hosted the sudden death playoff round last night to decide the participants in the upcoming championship series.