Big time basketball in Panjim
l All-India YMCA championship from Thursday
HERALD SPORTS REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 8
The capital city is agog with excitement as big time basketball is set to return with the hosting of prestigious all-India inter-YMCA basketball championship for Dalton McClelland shield (trophy) from February 10-13 at Fr Benedict Furtado memorial hall at Don Bosco’s indoor stadium of Don Bosco’s Oratory here.
The 4-day event will see 17 top YMCA teams from Mumbai, Guntur, Ernakulum, Secunderabad, Coimbatore, Bareilly, Pune, Palakkad, Hyderabad, Vizag, Kolkata, New Delhi, Chennai, Fort Cochin and Kalyan vying for top honours with Goa YMCA fielding its own Panjim YMCA team for the first time ever in Goan basketball scenario. Bombay, the holders, will field two teams, according to a press briefing by P M Vaz, Goa YMCA president, Isaac Prasadam, senior secretary Bombay YMCA and organising secretary and Ashley do Rosario, coordinator.
Basketball was at one time among the popular sports in Goa and the YMCA Goa is determined to bring back its past glory as several National and State players will be seen in action in matches which are expected to go the full distance and generate thrills aplenty, according to P M Vaz.
“The Goa Unit is very much involved in youth development programme and basketball forms part and parcel of our campus activity. Hence we have formed our own team as part of promotion of basketball in the State,” P M Vaz elaborated.
“Its time for our youth to come and witness matches of very high standards as the YMCA is taking a giant leap in promoting basketball. We are grateful that Don Bosco’s have provided us with the indoor stadium, but eventually, we will need our own one for which the authorities will have to provide us with the necessary space,” remarked P M Vaz.
“The investment in organising the event is Rs 10 lakh, with the Bombay YMCA bearing the entire expenditure in which Manvin’s will provide lodging at subsidised rates,” disclosed P M Vaz.
“YMCAs are known for high quality performance basketball teams all over India. This is our regular, annual affair in which the youth, boys and girls, men and women look forward with keen interest to participate, cheer as we channelise energy in the right direction,” stated Isaac Prasadam, the chief organiser.
“We have outstanding players and they are all raring to go, to display their best in Goa. Basketball is a very popular sport in the world and the fare dished out by the YMCA teams will be worth going miles to see,” voiced Isaac.
Coordinator Ashley do Rosario said that matches will be played at 7 a.m., 8.30 a.m. 10 a.m. 11.30 a.m., 3 p.m., 4.30 p.m., 5.30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The semi-finals will be played on Sunday at 4 p.m. while the semi-finals will be at 7.30 and 9 a.m.
Group matches will be played on league basis with the semi-finals and finals being on knock-out basis.
The teams: Pool A – Bombay, Guntur, Ernakulum, Secunderabad. Pool B – Coimbatore, Bombay B, Bareilly, Pune, Palakaad. Pool C – Hyderabad, Vizag, Kolkata, Panjim. Pool D – New Delhi, Chennai, Fort Cochin, Kalyan.
Joseph Vaz of YMCA was also present.
