The Bequia Basketball Association (BBA) is celebrating the continued success of its youth development programme as young players across the island continue to sharpen their basketball skills through weekly training camps at the Clive Tannis Hard Court in Port Elizabeth.
The Association says the programme has become an important platform for nurturing the next generation of basketball talent while promoting teamwork, discipline and a lifelong passion for the sport.
The latest training session, held on Sunday, June 28, received a significant boost with the attendance of three distinguished Vincentian basketball personalities who shared their experience and expertise with the young athletes.
Among the special guests were Taiwan-based basketball coach and Founder of the Breakthrough Basketball Academy, Craiglee Sam; former professional player Austin Derrick, who has competed in Taiwan and Hong Kong; and FIBA-qualified referee Shem Ollivierre.
The Association thanked the trio for volunteering their time to mentor the participants and inspire the island’s emerging basketball players.
The youth camp was also attended by Prime Minister Dr. Godwin Friday, who visited the session to observe the progress of the programme and offer encouragement to the young athletes and organizers.
The BBA also paid tribute to its dedicated team of volunteer coaches, including Kelan Edwards, Denroy Hutchins, Keithroy Lavia and Jermaine John, whose commitment continues to drive the programme’s success.
Special recognition was given to Jermaine John, who will soon represent both Bequia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a member of the Men’s Senior National Basketball Team at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Guyana this July.
The Association also expressed appreciation to volunteers Diane King and Alana Phillips for their continued service, while thanking former NBA player Adonal Foyle for donating basketball jerseys to the children participating in the programme.
Sponsors The Chappy House and Frangipani Hotel were also acknowledged for their ongoing support of youth basketball development on the island.
Looking ahead, the Association announced that preparations are progressing for the 24th Annual Bequia Basketball Tournament, with camp participants soon to be divided into teams to gain valuable competitive experience during the event.
The BBA is also preparing to host a Referee Workshop aimed at developing a new generation of basketball officials and strengthening the long-term growth of the sport in Bequia.
Association officials reaffirmed their commitment to creating positive opportunities for young people through basketball and expressed confidence that the programme will continue to grow while producing talented players and responsible citizens for years to come.