2021 Basketball Season Jumps off in Raiwaqa

Suva – After nearly a year of covid-19 restrictions, Eds Court was brought back to life as the first day of the nine-day tournament jumped off yesterday at the Raiwaqa Basketball Players Association Inter-lane Tournament.

U15 Boys Opening Match - Davui Magics Vs Bryceland

The nine-day tournament will host a total of 19 Open Grade Teams and Nine U15 teams from Thursday 18th February and with the finals on the 27th of February at Eds Court in Raiwaqa.

The Mens Pool features defending Inter-lane Champions - Spowart Dreads out to defend the Cinavilakeba Trophy and part of the Pool Cash Prize of one thousand two hundred dollars. Mens teams competing for this year’s Trophy are Singh Lane Jazz, Bryceland, Browning Bombers, Davui Magics, Grantham Road, Tivitivi Lane, Crossroads, Mingting Bulldogs, and Police.

Women’s Teams will be out to stamp their name on the newly introduced Bulou Miliakare Waqairawai Shield. Bulou Miliakere or better known as Aunty Take was a pioneer in the development of basketball in Raiwaqa and a national icon for Womens basketball in Fiji representing Fiji in numerous local & international tournaments.

Team competing for the shield are Singh Lane Jazz, Browning Bombers, Davui Magics, Crossroads, Mighty Derricks, Sporwart Dreads, Mingting Bulldogs, and Police.

Also new to this tournament is the U15 Grades for both girls and boys competing for a cash pot prize of six hundred dollars. U15 teams competing include Crossroads, Spowart Dreads, Mingting Bulldogs, Bryceland & Davui Magics.

RBPA chairman Saula Koroi says that is the first of 6 series of tournaments set out for the year. Tournaments following will include Inter-Lane Championships which following this tournament, Club Tournament & Championships, Provincial Games in October ending with the Inter Confederacies tournament in December. Teams are excited to participate after a one-year halt to all sporting competitions.

The official opening for the tournament will be held on Saturday at 8:00 am at Eds Court.