JBC set to maintain dominance

Sisasenkosi Ncube
HARARE Basketball giants JBC seek to maintain their dominance and replicate last seasonaï¿½ï¿½s form at this yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition of the Lakers Basketball tournament.

The fifth edition of the tournament which started on Wednesday and is set to end on Sunday mid-morning features over 50 teams from around the country. Thereaï¿½ï¿½re also teams from Malawi and Zambia this time around.

In last seasonaï¿½ï¿½s tournament, JBC emerged winners scooping the Best Team Award, the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) and three of their players made it to the five men All-Star team.

The womenaï¿½ï¿½s side finished third at the expense of the hosts Lakers who scooped the Best Team Award in the womensaï¿½ï¿½ category.

JBC menaï¿½ï¿½s captain Advent Karikumasa who wasnaï¿½ï¿½t part of last yearaï¿½ï¿½s side is upbeat.

aï¿½?We have a capable group of players with a capacity to take us all the way to the finals and eventually win the tournament. Our destiny is in our hands,aï¿½? he said.

JBC are also defending champions of the Zimbabwe National League.

Meanwhile, this yearaï¿½ï¿½s edition also had the introduction of primary schools. According to the Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) tournament organiser, Sikhumbuzo Ndlovu, there was overwhelming response from schools.

aï¿½?This is an initiative that is going continue as we try to catch them young,aï¿½? said Ndlovu adding that 24 schools will take part.