Bibby, Stackhouse billed for 'Hoopfest Jamaica'

LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

At least five players from the National Basketball Association (NBA) will be in the island at the end of August to conduct a clinic and play an exhibition game.

Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange made the announcement on Sunday at the launch of the Western Union West Kingston Summer Games at the Tivoli Sports Complex.

Minister Grange said the group of NBA players should include point guard Mike Bibby of the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks' guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse.

Youthful vibrancy

The players will participate in an event billed 'Hoopfest Jamaica' at the National Indoor Sports Centre. The date has not been finalised.

Grange said the players had expressed an interest in visiting Jamaica.

"They are keen to come to Jamaica and willing to pay their own way, they only wish that we are gracious," said the minister on Sunday.

Grange made the announcement at the end of her speech on Sunday, after highlighting the importance of the Western Union competition.

"(This tournament) is a celebration of youthful vibrancy, energy and talent found within our inner cities and it offers us a possible chance at finding answers to some of the challenges the country now faces," said the minister. "I encourage the managers at Western Union to move one step further and have your presence felt in similar summer programmes right across the country."

The competition, which includes netball and basketball and will be hosted at Tivoli Gardens until August 10, has been kind to the host team, with Tivoli winning the netball competition the five previous years and only losing the basketball title once. Twenty teams will compete in each sport and they will be supplemented by a sponsorship worth $1.8 million.