Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA is happy with the response to his basketball league tournament which gets underway on August 15, 2014, noting that some lessons have been learnt from the inaugural staging of the tournament in 2013. Photo: VINO/File

Ruff House receiving their trophy for winning the Hon Julian Fraser/Save the Seed League basketball championship last year. Photo: VINO/File

Bishop John I. Cline (left) and Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) greet each other at the launch of the 2014 Hon Julian Fraser/Save the Seed Basketball League tournament on July 7, 2014. Photo: VINO/File

“Coming of the success of last season we have learnt a great deal and it can only be a building exercise from here on. We have been able to make some rule changes for the betterment of the sport and we are enthusiastic about the number of teams that have signed up so far,” said Hon Fraser in an interview yesterday August 7, 2014 with Virgin Islands News Online.

“We are probably at the breaking point where teams are concerned so we have to be more innovative in seeking ways to executive the game,” he said.

He spoke of new features and encouraged players to be at their best performance and behaviour.

“Despite my enthusiasm and zest for getting the young people involved in activities other than negative, I have to be careful to make sure that they understand their responsibilities as well,” he said. “The least they can do is exhibit some good behaviour,” he stressed.

According to a press release from the League, anticipation is high for the commencement of the games come Friday August 15, 2014 at the Save the Seed Centre in Duffs Bottom, Tortola.

“There is a record number of registrants with some 18 senior teams signed up to be a part of the very popular league. There is also a 9-13 junior division in the League,” said the release.

It noted that this is the second annual Basketball League hosted by Third District Representative Honourable Julian Fraser RA, in collaboration with the Save the Seed Energy Centre founder Bishop John I. Cline.

In a press conference last month to launch the league both Hon Fraser and Bishop Cline pledged their support for the youth of the Virgin Islands and for doing what they can to instill discipline and build character in young people through the sports of basketball.

They told the public that their basketball league is more than basketball, but also about youth development; it’s about character building; it’s about nation building.

The league will kick off on August 15, 2014 with an opening ceremony at 5:00PM at the Save the Seed Basketball Court in Duffs Bottom and all teams both senior and junior, are expected to have at least 5 players representing each team for the lineup.

Speakers at the opening ceremony will include Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3), Minister for Sports Myron V. Walwyn and Save the Seed Founder Bishop Cline.

The league will be played under FIBA rules with some by-laws relevant to the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League according to Rajah A. Smith the league’s Commissioner. According to the release, Mr. Smith reminded the participating teams who have not paid their registration fees to do so by August 12, 2014 since it could affect the team’s participation in the League.

Games will be played on the weekends-on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays-with an occasional Wednesday night game at the Save the Seed Centre. The League is expected to end by 2 November 2014.

For the first time the League will be offering its League Championship Team Rings, and organizers warned team players, coaches, managers and owners of zero tolerance for disrespect to league officials or any type of unsportsman like behaviour.

There is also a draft system in place whereby each team can secure one of the Virgin Islands’ A Team Players who is over the age of 23 and under 40 years old who played in the BVI Federation Basketball League this year.

A raffle pick will determine what teams get which number picked in the Draft. Some of the elite players to be considered, once they agree for the draft are the likes of Jason A. Edwin, Kennedy H. Bass, Ray D. Victor, Randy ‘Chino’ George, Cedric King, David ‘Bolo’ Lettsome, Steve E. Parillon, Travis Isaac, Kelvin Samuel, Phillip Glasgow, Javaghn Cameron, Juan Hatchet, Jevone ‘Bugsy’ Demming, Trevon ‘Reese’ Lewis, and Dwayne ‘Kobo’ Penn to name a few.

The opening night will see defending championship team Ruff House versus last year’s finalists Avengers do battle. They will be playing the last of three games on opening night.