Co-founder of the Honourable Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League, Honourable Julian Fraser RA (R3) has hailed the 3rd edition of the league as a success despite some difficulties which led to its brief suspension and the postponement of some games. Photo: VINO

D'Moi M. Hodge receives his MVP trophy from Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3). Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

2015 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League Champions West Gunners. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Speaking with this news site minutes after the final game of the two-game finals between West Gunners and Splash Brothers, Honourable Fraser hailed the third annual tournament as meeting expectations.

"It was indeed without question a success. The League was successful this season. As for the lessons learnt, it is that we must ensure we keep the reins tightened,” he said.

“The League has rules and the moment we slip on enforcing those rules, things get out of hand.”

Honourable Fraser added that while he acknowledges that the League had issues, he is happy that they were able to overcome them for the good of the game.

During the run up to the final stages of the tournament, the League was suspended following a spate of indisciplined behaviour by some teams. A number of administrative changes were then announced, following which games resumed. “We put our heads together and we persevered and so we are back,” he said.

“I am sure that there were those people who thought that we would not have come back after the suspension.”

Going forward following lessons learnt

Ahead of the fourth edition of the championship for 2016, Honourable Fraser said they will be going forward with a clear idea having learned the harsh lessons this year.

“Our rules are strict when it comes to discipline, and when it comes to behaviour, and if we lapse in any way, shape, or form things get out of hand and I am going to make sure [this does not happen again],” he said.

Honourable Fraser related that among the issues that forced changes to be made were those of conflict of interest, with committee members owning teams.

“They were under pressure to the extent that they couldn’t execute their duties as owners of teams and they were under pressure to the extent that they probably couldn’t execute their duties as committee members. So what we have done was made those adjustments and with those adjustments the League’s rules will be enforced.”

There was no space for intermediate players

Asked how would his League contribute to the development of the sport of basketball in the territory, Honourable Fraser said there was “a big gap” in the other basketball leagues where there are either the elite basketball players or the juniors, with nothing in between.

“Those players fell into a hole and what this league sought to do was to create an intermediate basketball league and in so doing we realised that we could make it more interesting by allowing those elite players from the other leagues to play among our players, that allows one player on each team and you’ve seen it here tonight how instrumental this was,” said Honourable Fraser, referring to the performance of West Gunners’ draft pick Ray D. Victor.

But he emphasised that when all is said and done, the discipline of the Honourable Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League is what is going to set it apart from the rest. Our rules are strict and they are being enforced,” he stressed.