Holiday hoops commence

The inaugural 14-and-under Christmas Basketball Tournament kicks off this morning with a full slate of matches at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Competition heats up in Pool A when an all-star team from Tinian goes up against a team from Hopwood High School in the 9am curtain raiser.

The second game, between Pool B teams Kagman Cougars and 69ers, immediately follow at 10am.

Pool A dark horse San Antonio Sixers and an unpredictable Tanapag Young Warriors quintet then go at it in the 11am scheduled game. Garapan Rollers and a squad from William S. Reyes Elementary School then take on each other at noon in Pool B.

The 69ers and Garapan renew their rivalry at 1pm, while Hopwood and Sixers head back to the hard court at 2pm. The day’s final encounter then pits Tinian against Young Warriors beginning at 3pm.

Games on Tuesday will again begin at 9am with Pool B squads Kagman Cougars and William S. Reyes drawing each other in the curtain raiser. Pool A competition gets underway at 10am when Hopwood matches up with Young Warriors.

Kagman Cougars hit the floor again at 12pm when they face Garapan Rollers, while 69ers and William S. Reyes will have the honor of closing out the single-elimination phase of the tournament beginning at 1pm.

Afterwards the playoffs of the 14-and-under basketball competition begin, where only the Top 2 teams from each pool get to play, while the others would be reduced to the role of spectators on the bleechers.

The opening game will have the top seed in Pool A taking on the second seed of Pool B starting at 2:30pm. The second game then features the Pool B topnotcher facing off against the runner-up in Pool A.

The winners of the two Final Four matches advance to the winner-take-all championship game on Wednesday scheduled at 11am. The battle for all the marbles will be preceded by the consolation game between the losers of the semifinals at 9am.

The 2004 Christmas Basketball Tournament is open to 14-and-under basketball players and their teams. Eligible players are those not turning 15 years old before the Dec. 27 kick-off date.

Tournament director Jonathan Tenorio said DCCA would allow players turning 15 years old during the competition to see action in the tournament.

Aside from getting plenty of exercise to burn off calories gained during the Christmas Eve feast, the DCCA said the Top 3 teams would also get trophies and possibly cash prizes for their hard work.

Tenorio said team rosters will be limited to a maximum of 15 players and the coaches and managers are requested to submit their rosters and entry fees as soon as possible.

Identification forms to crosscheck the ages of players will also be required by DCCA, said Tenorio, who will be assisted by tournament consultant Joe Lizama.

For more information about the 2004 Christmas Basketball Tournament, please contact coordinator Jonathan Tenorio at the DCCA Division of Recreation and Sports by calling 664-2503/8.