15-06-2014
Organized by "Palestine Sports for Life" Sons of Ramallah and Optic teams are the winners of the Youth Triple Basketball Championship titles
Winners receiving trophies
Al-Bireh – Alayyam – Palestine Sports for Life Association organized the first 3×3 basketball tournament for youth in the age group of 15 to 17, as well as a junior mixed-gender tournament for juveniles under the age of 14. The tournament was organized under the supervision of the Basketball Federation and partial sponsorship by the National Beverage Company "Sprite".
Seventy male and female players participated in the tournament, made up of 8 teams under age of 17 year category, while 10 teams were under age of 14 year category. The total of 18 teams included the following: Orthodoxy-Ramallah, Jerusalem Boys, Shabab Nablus (Nablus Youth), Multaqa Abna' Al-Balad (Abna' Al-Balad Boys Concourse), Qariat Al-Nabi Saleh (Prophet Saleh Village), Sports for Life, as well as other players from Ramallah and Jerusalem. All players have been added to FIBA databases to have a chance at global ranking.
The tournament began with an explanation of the rules of the game, followed by dividing the teams in each category into two groups. The first round ended with the champion and the runner-up moving up to the second round.
Nablus Youth Team, Ramallah Boys, ORC, and SJK in the under age of 17 year category qualified for the semi-finals.
Ramallah Boys managed to win the title at the expense of Nablus Youth (8/6). Each member of the team received a cash prize, while Nablus Youth came second.
The Ramallah Boys team was represented by George Tannous, George Sanyourah, Husam Bsaiso, and Shadi Khader, while the Nablus Youth team was represented by Hani Anabtawi, Sameh Anabtawi, and Mohammad Owmal.
In the under age of 14 category, Jerusalem Boys, Optics, Sports for Life, Warriors, and Bulls were able to qualify for the semi-finals.
In the final match, the Optics team was able to score (5/3) against the Bulls, taking away the precious title as well as a cash prize for all players, while the Bulls had to settle for second place.
The -Optics team was represented by Yazan Abu-Hijlih, Kareem Shalabi, Suleiman Ershaid, and Zaid Anabtawi, while the Bulls were represented by Ibrahim Al-Wazeer, Rafiq Naseef, and Maher Qura'an.
The Technical Coordinator at the National Beverages Company "Sprite", Mr. Alaa' Esawi, expressed his pleasure for the success of the tournament and the realization of the Company's objectives in sponsoring the youth. He cited the importance of promoting sports for the lives of young boys and girls, and considered it a real opportunity to showcase Palestinian talent at an international level. He also expressed his gratitude to Palestine Sports for Life for their efforts in initiating and organizing the tournament.
In his comment on the event, Mr. Sameh Masri, the Sports for Life Chairman, said that the Association has been always keen to encourage youth through its different activities, and through its football and basketball schools. He also thanked the National Beverages Company for its sponsorship of the tournament. In this context, Mr. Masri drew attention to the participation of two of the teams, Abna' Al-Balad Boys Club of Prophet Saleh Village, where the Association has established a youth center, trained young trainers and established a basketball school a few months ago.
The Association in turn thanked all of the key players who contributed to the success of the tournament, namely: The Red Crescent, Ameen Al-Ramini, Feras Taher, Mu'tasem, Taha, Layan Anabtawi, Bisan Kharoubi, Bisan A'azem, Rand Kurdi, Reem Sarsour, Bashar Rawajbeh, Yousef Zamar, Mai Zerro, Razan Herzallah and Salah Abu-ain.
