Team Captain of BVI Bayside Blazers, Jason A. Edwin, said the plan is to repeat as champions of the ‘Battle of the Fittest’ Basketball Tournament in St Maarten, even though a tough challenge is expected. Photo: VINO/File

The 6th annual ‘Battle of the Fittest’ Basketball Tournament will be held in Dutch St Maarten at the L.B Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg from Sunday, July 14, 2019 to Saturday, July 20, 2019. Photo: Team of Reporters

The 2018 BVI Bayside Blazers team that defeated Dutch St Maarten in the final of the 5th annual ‘Battle of the Fittest’ Basketball Tournament on July 21, 2018. Photo: Team of Reporters

The popular regional basketball league, where the [British] Virgin Islands (BVI) holds the championship title, will be held in Dutch St Maarten at the L. B. Scott Sports Auditorium in Philipsburg from Sunday, July 14, 2019 to Saturday, July 20, 2019.

A 12-member Bayside Blazers team, for a second year in a row, has been endorsed by the BVI Basketball Federation (BVIBF) to officially represent the territory.

The BVI Blazers team had defeated Dutch St Maarten in the final 88-64 on July 21, 2018 to bring the title to the BVI for a third consecutive year.

Tough challenge expected

And, according to Team Captain of Bayside Blazers, Jason A. Edwin, the plan is to repeat as champions even though a tough challenge is expected.

“We know it’s going to be a tough challenge because we trying to repeat as champions. We all know as defending champions you have that target on your back. So we know going forward we need to have a different kind of approach, in terms of mental, in that every game is going to be a tough one.”

The team this year will be without some of the players that represented in St Maarten last year, including 2018 Team Captain and MVP, Ray D. Victor, who was unavailable for selection due to conflicting travel schedule.

Nevertheless, Mr Edwin told Virgin Islands News Online the team is still a strong and balanced one that is capable of bringing home the goods.

“We have been preparing for the tournament for quite some time now in terms of getting the personnel together. We had to look at the players’ availability and tried to put a strong team together, position by position, whereas we could be ready for any particular situation or strategy [in St Marteen].

Meanwhile, the Head Coach of BVI Bayside Blazers is Ronald Simmons aka ‘Gola’ and the team will be managed by Honourable Julian Willock, who will also travel with the team.

Big Squad

The BVI Bayside Blazers will depart the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Saturday, July 13, 2019. The Territory will face some 8 other regional countries in the battle for a five thousand dollars (5,000) cash prize, and basketball at its finest.

The BVI 12-member team includes team captain, Jason A. Edwin, along with Killven M. Samuel, Kimani T. Stevens, Adrian D. Joseph Dextroy D. Mamswell, Shamarr A. George, Daven D. Ottley, Melvin H. Haynes, Cleo D. Sears, Deon J. Edwin, Kleon C. Penn, and Dion M. Blyden.