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The Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s (BLTA) National Tennis Centre (NTC) welcomed coach extraordinaire Patrick Mouratoglou to speak to young tennis players over the weekend.

For a decade, Mouratoglou coached tennis great Serena Williams, and during that span Williams won 10 Grand Slam titles – two at the Australian Open, two French Open titles, three Wimbledon titles and three titles at the US Open.

Mouratoglou founded the number one tennis academy in Europe, the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, where tennis stars such as Grigor Dmitrov, of

Bulgaria, and Holger Rune, of Denmark, passed through. American Coco Gauff also attended the academy when she was only 11-years-old. As a leader among leaders, Mouratoglou has been quoted as saying “make your biggest weakness become your biggest strength”. His talent as a coach is undeniable and he shares his knowledge constantly on his social media platforms.

BLTA President Perry Newton extended thanks to Coach Mouratoglou for visiting with the Play Tennis program kids.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the young children, and because of this, they are encouraged to dream big,” said Newton. “Coach Mouratoglou is an inspiration to the sport and he transcends culture and nationalities. He is very affable and the kids took very easily to him. We are appreciative to Coach Mouratoglou and his entire team for making the day possible. We also thank Coach Elanqua Griffin, Coach Paula Whitfield, Coach Ted Turner and Coach Mateo Smith who worked hand in hand with Coach Mouratoglou during the session.

“The kids were enthusiastic and overjoyed at this opportunity. We hope that they are encouraged to continue in the sport, to work hard and to always pursue their dreams. Thank you for sharing your time, talent and energy Coach Mouratoglou and we pray the seeds that you planted in these young minds and hearts blossom.”

BLTA Vice President Chilean Burrows and NTC Director Darnette Weir were also on hand.

Scores of athletes were rewarded for their hard work in sports

• Sheldon Longley
• Nov 6, 2023
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Sailor Craig Ferguson II won the Junior High School Male Athlete of the Year Award at the National Sports Awards Ceremony on Saturday.

Indiana Pacers’ guard Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield was named the tourism brand ambassador at the National Sports Awards Ceremony on Saturday.

Miami Marlins’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, celebrates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Quinn Priester during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. AP

• Gene J. Puskar

Jamiah Nabbie was named the Senior High School Female Athlete of the Year at the National Sports Awards Ceremony on the lawn of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

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There weren’t any overall junior and senior athletes of the year crowned, but at the end of the day, there were more enough awards to go around for the top athletes in the country to be recognized and celebrated.

The National Sports Awards Ceremony was held under a tent on the lawn of the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium on Saturday, and scores of athletes were recognized for their hard work and results for the 2023 season.

Ferguson will head to Exuma next week to compete in the Sunfish Junior National Championships, looking to defend his title.

Nabbie said she is thrilled and will look to continue her progression in 2024.

“I feel ecstatic,” she said. “This will definitely be used as motivation for me going into next season. It’s all through God. Thanks to God for everything that He has done. This shows that hard work pays off. Every athlete wants recognition for the work that they would have done. I’m very grateful.”

Already, at just 15, Nabbie has been on five national teams. She said she loves representing her country and will look to do more of the same in the future.

Both Sands and Vanderpool weren’t able to make the trip to New Providence for the awards ceremony.

Winning the award for the Family Island athlete of the year was Androsian Tylah Pratt. She was fourth in the girls high jump at the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-18 and Under-23 Championships in San José, Costa Rica, this year, clearing 1.60 meters (m) – 5’ 3” – and fifth in the under-17 girls division at the CARIFTA Games in that same event, clearing the same height.

“I feel really good. I am proud of myself,” said Pratt. “I worked hard this track and field season and it feels good to get this award. I was in a state of shock and after that I was proud. I just have to thank God, my family and my coaches. This shows that the training and intense workouts paid off.”

The Family Island Coach of the Year is Kennard Mackey from Eleuthera, the Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year is Rhema Otabor and the Collegiate Male Athlete of the Year Lamar Taylor who also took home the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) Award.

CARIFTA Aquatics took home the national youth team of the year award, the national team of the year award, CARIFTA coach Travano McPhee was named as the national coach of the year and the Bahamas Aquatics Federation was named as the national federation of the year. Additionally, for swimming, Let’s Swim Bahamas won the community sports award.

The New Providence Old Timers Softball Association (NPOTSA) was named as the sports league of the year. C.H. Reeves won the junior athletic school of the year award and St. Augustine’s College (SAC) won that award in the senior category.

The Erin Brown national sports award for disabilities went to Special Olympians Austin Reeves and Caitlin Romer.

The Leevan Sands Courage Award went to tennis player Rachel Thompson and the tourism brand ambassador award went to Indiana Pacers’ guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Chavano ‘Buddy’ Hield. The tourism sports impact award went to Battle 4 Atlantis.

The sportsmanship ambassador award went to Ivanique Kemp.

Finally, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Award for Excellence went to Terrance Jones and the Prime Minister’s Award for National Pride went to Miami Marlins’ outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) Jasrado ‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr.

Apart from the National Sports Awards, athletes are expected to be recognized by their respective sporting federations this year.

• Sheldon Longley
• Nov 6, 2023
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Rhema Otabor won the silver medal for The Bahamas in the women’s javelin at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, over the weekend. She turned in a personal best throw of 60.54m (198’ 7”). ANTONIO SAUNDERS

Bahamian Donald Thomas won a bronze medal in the men’s high jump at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

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The Bahamas picked up a silver and bronze at the 19th Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, over the weekend, ending the multi-sport event with three total medals – one silver and two bronze – and in a three-way tie with Guyana and Haiti for 25th in the medal standings.

Both of The Bahamas’ medals over the weekend came in athletics. Turning in medal performances at the Coliseo del Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez in Santiago were Rhema Otabor in the women’s javelin and Donald Thomas in the men’s high jump.

Otabor is progressively getting better. She had her personal best throw on her first attempt and had five throws over 57m (187’) in the competition. She is now just about three meters away from Laverne Eve’s national record of 63.73m (209’ 1”) and about three and a half meters away from the automatic qualifying mark for next year’s Olympic Games – 64m (209’ 11”). The silver medal winning throw was Otabor’s first over 60m (196’ 10”) in her career and she has now set new personal best marks four times this season.

Thomas also competed on Friday and leapt 2.24m (7’ 4”) to finish third in the men’s high jump. The former world champion now has completed the medal set at the Pan Am Games, winning gold in Guadalajara, Mexico, in 2011, silver in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2007, and bronze in Santiago this year. Luis Enrique Zayas, of Cuba, won the gold medal with a clearance of 2.27m (7’ 5-1/4”), Luis Joel Castro, of Puerto Rico, cleared the same height as Thomas, but edged the Bahamian for the silver medal based on number of knockdowns.

Zayas was clean in the competition up until the 2.27m height while Thomas had two knockdowns each at 2.15m (7’ 0-1/2”), 2.21m (7’ 3”) and 2.24m before going over the bar on his third attempt at all three heights.

Despite getting a late start to his career, Thomas, now 39, has won at least one medal at a number of events. The Olympic medal is the only medal of significance that eludes.

In sailing, Joshua Higgins finished 17th overall out of 22 sailors, competing in the Dinghy – ILCA 7 event on the waters of the Cofradía Náutica del Pacífico in Algarrobo, Chile. He ended the 10-race series with 177 total points, 154 net, and was the only Bahamian competing in sailing, representing the country in the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) Dinghy class.

Higgins, a native of Harbour Island, finished 17th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 19th, 20th, 19th, 15th, 17th and 15th in the 10 races of the series. The worst finish was thrown out, leading to the 154 net points.

In golf, Bahamian Richard Gibson finished with a five-over par 77 for 28th out of 30 golfers in the first round of the men’s individual competition at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago. In the second round, he shot an even-par 72 to finish in a three-way tie for 21st in that round; in the third round, he had a one-over par 73 to finish in a four-way tie for 24th in that round; and in the fourth and final round, he turned in a three-over par 75 to finish in a tie for 27th in that round.

Overall, Gibson shot a nine-over par 297 in the four rounds, finishing tied for 27th overall.

As mentioned, The Bahamas finished in a three-way tie with Guyana and Haiti for 25th in the medal standings with three medals – one silver and two bronze.https://0993f80b48fdffe523d174af434fa270.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html

Otabor won the silver medal in the women’s javelin and Thomas won a bronze in the men’s high jump in athletics and the other bronze medal came from Lamar Taylor in the men’s 50m free in swimming. Taylor finished third in that event in a national record time of 22.13 seconds.

The Bahamas had 20 athletes competing in six disciplines at the games – tennis, sailing, swimming, athletics, golf and wrestling.

• Nov 6, 2023
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Kix Academy under-9 (U9) and under-11 (U11) teams had strong performances against Renegades FC on the fields adjacent to the original Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium on Saturday morning, with Kix Academy coming out on top in both divisions.

Both divisions were closely contested. In the U11 division, Kix won 8-4. Isaac Richardson led the way with four goals, Christian King had two goals, and Tyrell Ferguson Jr. and Christian Major chipped in with a goal each.

Richardson has led the way for Kix Academy for the past several games. He had four goals against the Renegades two weeks ago, and he also had a hat trick against the Baha Jrs under-13 (U13) team last month, playing a division up from his age group.

YOUNG, aspiring tennis players are shown with coaches Patrick Mouratoglou and Richele LeSaldo.

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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Coach Patrick Mouratoglou with Richele LeSaldo, director of the Albany Tennis Academy.

#Patrick Mouratoglou, the world renowned French tennis coach, was impressed with his return trip to the Bahamas this week.

#Mouratoglou, a former decade long coach of legendary American tennis star Serena Williams, was invited to the Bahamas by Richele LeSaldo, the director of the Albany Tennis Academy.

#Here on a stop after his visit to Miami, Florida, before he heads to Los Angeles, California, Mouratoglou got a chance to work with a number of local rising young tennis players.

#Mouratoglou said he remembered coming here during the years that he coached Williams from 2012-2022 for a brief trip, but he was delighted to be back to actually put in some work with the young players. “I think the players were really receptive to what was being taught, especially the young player from Grand Bahama,” Mouratoglou said. “I think they all did a very good job.”

#From what he has seen, Mouratoglou said the future looks bright for the Bahamas, considering that the players are following in the footsteps of one of the game’s greatest doubles specialists Mark Knowles.

#“I’m happy that Richele invited me to come here. I’ve known her for a long time, and I think she’s doing a very good job with these facilities here. I hope that I can come back and continue to work with the programme in the future.”

#LeSaldo, a close associate of Mouratoglou from France as well, said it’s great to have one of the world’s greatest coaches to be in town to share his expertise with the youngsters.

#“I’m happy to have him here,” LeSaldo said. “I think the young players whom he got a chance to work with have learnt quite a bit from him. He’s been an inspiration to those in attendance.”

#Former player Oneil Mortimer, who assisted Mouratoglou in serving balls to the players, said it was a very insightful experience for him as one of the young coaches in the Bahamas.

#“Learning from him and being on the court with him was a big pleasure of mine,” Mortimer stated.

#“I learned how important it is to be on point and deliver the ball to the players so that they can get it right.”

#Alessio Battello, who came in from Grand Bahama with his mother Dianna Battello, had a special private training session with Mouratoglou.

#Battello, a 13-year-old ninth grader at Lucaya International School, said he was thrilled to have met Mouratoglou.

#“It was a dream come true. I learned a lot from him,” Battello said. “I learned how important it is to use your wrist in just about every shot in this game. I think it was a good experience coming here for the lesson.”

#Houlgrave, one of the top junior female players in the country, said she was very happy to get the opportunity, not just to meet Mouratoglou, but to also get some pointers from him as she went through some drills.

#“I never thought I would have been able to hit with him, considering that he’s coached some of the best female tennis players in the world,” said Houlgrave, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Windsor High School.

#“I learnt a lot of stuff from the short time I worked and watched him because there’s a lot of stuff that I can work on to improve my game. There’s no specific thing, but I can work on every aspect of my game.”

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#SPORTS Heritage Month began on Wednesday and among the event’s sporting festivities will be the National Sports Awards slated for tomorrow evening.

#The ceremony is set to take place on the front lawn of the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium at 6:30pm. Nominees for the 26 categories are all in and winners will be awarded this weekend.

#The awards to be presented on Saturday are junior and senior high school student athlete (male and female), Family Island student athlete, collegiate athlete of the year, national secondary athletic school of the year (junior and senior), community sports award, Family Island Sports Council of the Year, youth national team of the year, national coach of the year, federation of the year, tourism impact of the year, Bahamas Olympic Committee award, Leevan Sands Courage award, athlete of the year with disability (male and female), national sportsmanship, Minister of Sports-for excellence, the Prime Minister Award for National Pride, Sports league of the year, tourism ambassador award, Family Island coach of the year,

#The male nominees for junior high school student athlete of the year are Christon Joseph, Craig Ferguson, David Singh, Devano Dorsett, Eagan Neely, Euland Rolle, Patrick Mactaggart, and Xavion Johnson. The nominees in contention for the female category include Abigail Smith, Anjaleah Knowles, Cara Rodgers, Davia Pinder, Kalél Nixon, Kamera Strachan, Katerina Coello, Keyezra Thomas, La’Breah Sands, Saleste Gibson,and Tatyana Madu.

#Female nominees for senior student athlete of the year are Jalisa Clarke, Jamiah Nabbie, Kaitlyn WIlliams, Kami Roach, Rhanishka Gibbs, Tera Sweeting, and Terrell McCoy. For the males, contending for the award will be Adrien Shearer, Branden Vanderpool, Dekari Turnquest, Jerald Carrol, Malcolm Menzies, Marvin Johnson, Valdez Edgecombe, and Zion Miller.

#The candidates for the national secondary athletic school of the year are CV Bethel, CR Walker, Queen’s College, St Augustine’s College, and Sunland Baptist Academy. The junior nominees in this category are AF Adderley, CH Reeves, St Augustine’s College, and Queen’s College.

#The contenders for the collegiate athlete of the year award are Jacobi Bain, Keyshawn Strachan, Kyle Wilson, and Lamar Taylor.

#Taylor will also be in the running for the Bahamas Olympic Committee award along with Rashield Williams, and Terrence Jones.

#Three nominees have been selected for the Leevan Sands Courage Award including the likes of Anthonique Strachan, Justin Roberts, and Rachel Thompson.

#Five nominees will hope to be awarded Family Island coach of the year honours on Saturday. The candidates are Anthony Williams, Felicia Cartwright, Kennard Mackey, Patricia Rolle, and Steven Brown.

#The National Sports Award for Federation of the Year is between the Bahamas Aquatic Federation, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, Bahamas Softball Federation, Bahamas Triathlon Association, Bahamas Boxing Federation, and Equestrian Bahamas.

#The athlete of year with a disability nominees are Caitlin Romer and Deron Forbes.

#The Tribune Sports section will announce the results of this weekend’s National Sports Awards next week Monday.

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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LORRAINE LaFleur

BODYBUILDER Lorraine LaFleur posing.

#By BRENT STUBBS

#Senior Sports Reporter

#bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

#LORRAINE LaFleur can now boast of being the first Bahamian female to earn two professional bodybuilding cards.

#LaFleur, competing in her third event for the year, captured the IFBB Pro League overall title at the 2023 Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness and Performance Weekend.

#Held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, LaFleur added the NPC card to her Pro Elite card she got in Bogota, Colombia, in 2018.

#Opting not to go to the Caribbean Grand Prix on November 11 because she could get a chance to become the first Bahamian female to qualify for the Mr Olympia show, LaFleur won the Olando’s overall title after she took the women’s physique masters and women’s physique open divisions on Tuesday.

#Having won the triple crown, she competed in on her way to earning her NPC pro card, LaFleur said she still has to win another show next year in order to qualify for Mr Olympia. The mission, she said, is on.

#“This year, I was so tired and drained. I really didn’t care what the outcome was,” said LaFleur of the competition that took place on Tuesday. “I just wanted to get on the stage and get off because I was so tired.

#“But it was pretty easy. I just did what I had to do. I thought I did pretty good.”

#After spending the entire year training and competing, LaFleur said she was glad that she could finish off so strong. Now it’s time to celebrate and she will relish in her achievement this past year.

#“This was by far my best year,” she pointed out. “This year has been my performance; the training has been the best for me and my training was by far the best.”

#She attributed her success to the support she’s received from her supporting cast, including her daughter Allyssa Fox, who accompanied her in Orlando.

#“I have a 6 am training crew and a 7:30 pm training crew and we all go hard,” LaFleur revealed. “They kept pushing me even when I was tired. They kept saying ‘come on Lorraine, you can do this. They really had my back this year, so I owe a lot to them.”

#With the next two months to relax and enjoy the festive season, LaFleur said she intends to be right back in training as early as January in preparation for an early pro show in 2024 in order for her to secure her berth at Mr Olympic in October.

#Now that she has two pro cards, LaFleur said she doesn’t have to stress herself out in terms of competition because the shows don’t clash, which enables her to participate in whatever she chooses.

#“The Elite Pro doesn’t have as much competition as the NPC,” LaFleur said. “They don’t treat the athletes like the NPC. That is why I decided to switch and compete in the NPC. But I will still have a chance to compete in both competitions.”

#In the meantime, she will continue to prepare for whatever show pops up on the board until she gets to the ultimate stage at Mr Olympia.

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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Dr Kent Bazard

#Introduction

#FEMALE athletes, like their male counterparts, possess distinctive anatomy and physiology that play a crucial role in their athletic performance and injury management.

#In this article, we delve into these unique aspects and explore how they influence the differentiation and management of injuries, while also considering the Female Athlete Triad.

#The Unique Anatomy and Physiology of Female Athletes

#Female athletes exhibit distinct anatomical and physiological characteristics:

#1 Biomechanics: Women often have a wider pelvic structure, which can impact their biomechanics and movement patterns, influencing both their performance and injury risk.

#2 Hormonal Fluctuations: The menstrual cycle introduces hormonal fluctuations, which can affect ligament laxity, stability, and susceptibility to certain injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears.

#3 Bone Health: Female athletes may face concerns regarding bone health, including a predisposition to stress fractures and a higher risk of osteoporosis in later life.

#Injury Differentiation and Management

#In the field of sports, female athletes face specific considerations related to injury differentiation and management:

#1 ACL Tears: Female athletes are more susceptible to ACL tears due to hormonal factors and biomechanical differences. Early diagnosis and tailored rehabilitation are crucial for a successful recovery.

#2 Stress Fractures: Issues related to bone density and female athletes’ unique physiology can contribute to an increased risk of stress fractures. Proper diagnosis and specific nutritional interventions are essential in these cases.

#3 Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome): Female athletes often experience patellofemoral pain syndrome, resulting in chronic knee pain during activities. Rehabilitation strategies, including strengthening and flexibility exercises, are pivotal.

#Female Athlete Triad: A Critical Concern

#The Female Athlete Triad is a critical concern among female athletes. It’s characterised by three interrelated components: disordered eating, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), and osteoporosis.

#The Triad has serious health implications and requires comprehensive management that focuses on nutrition, menstrual health, and bone density.

#Preventive Measures and Management

#Preventing and effectively managing injuries in female athletes involve several key elements:

#1 Biomechanical Assessments: Identifying abnormal movement patterns and gait through biomechanical assessments can aid in creating targeted injury prevention programmes.

#2 Nutrition and Bone Health: Nutritional education, especially for female athletes, is paramount.

#Adequate calcium and vitamin D intake is essential for optimal bone health.

#3 Hormonal Considerations: Being aware of hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle is crucial. Adapting training programmes and monitoring to minimise injury risks is essential.

#4 Injury-Specific Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation programmes should be tailored to the unique anatomy and physiology of female athletes. They need to address specific needs and biomechanical factors for optimal recovery.

#Conclusion

#Understanding the unique anatomy and physiology of female athletes is essential for their well-being and success in sports.

#Recognising these distinct attributes and injury challenges, along with addressing concerns like the Female Athlete Triad, allows us to empower female athletes to continue their athletic journey while prioritizing their health and performance.

#• Dr Kent Bazard is a Bahamian sports medicine physician, sports performance coach, sports nutrition specialist and founder of Empire Sports Medicine. Our mission is to empower athletes to reach new heights while safeguarding their health and well-being. We understand the unique demands of sports activities, and we are dedicated to helping athletes prevent injuries, overcome challenges, optimise nutrition and performance.

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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#• Here’s a glance at some of the events on tap for this weekend:

#TODAY

#Track – Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s jumping clinic featuring Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands at the original Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium from 4-6 pm.

#Saturday

#Golf – National Sports Month’s Golf Tournament at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range starting at 8am.

#Track – Red-Line Athletics Track Club’s 4th annual Motivational, Health and Wellness Seminar at the National Training Agency from 10:30am to 3:30pm.

#Softball

#Public Service Softball Tournament at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. 9am – RBDF vs Inland Revenue. 9:45am – Police Red vs BDOCS. 10:30am – Agriculture vs Police Blue. 11:15am Ministry of Education vs Water & Sewerage.

#Noon – Winner Gm 1 vs Winner Gm 3. 12:45pm Winner GM 2 vs Winner GM 4. 1:30pm Loser GM 5 vs Loser GM 6 for 3rd place. 2:15pm – Winner GM 5 vs Winner GM 6 for championship. National Awards – 6:30pm Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Awards and Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on the lawn of the ministry.

#Sunday

#Volleyball – New Providence Volleyball Association’s double header at the DW Davis Gymnasium. 3:30pm – Warhawks vs Defenders (M). 5pm – Lady Warhawks vs Panthers (L).

As of Friday, November 3, 2023

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#By TENAJH SWEETING

#Tribune Sports Reporter

#tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

#THE New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) regular season is scheduled to return next week Saturday for opening night at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium.

#With a new president Ricardo Smith, and team of executives at the helm for the next four years, changes are on the way for the NPBA, starting with the season opener.

#The event will kick off with the NPBA Finals rematch between the Discount Distributors Rockets and the defending champions Commonwealth Bank Giants at 7:30pm.

#The announcement came during a press conference yesterday.

#The CB Giants swept the Rockets 3-0 to end the NPBA postseason with the division one championship hardware.

#In the previous season, the Rockets dealt a similar blow to the reigning champions and now they are hungry for revenge.

#NPBA president Smith said the anticipation for the opening night game has been sky-high since the final buzzer of game three in the NPBA Finals.

#“This game is a game that is most anticipated, people have been waiting to see the rematch.

#“We will have a new look Rockets and new look Giants, all I can say is you will have to come and see what happens because there is no guarantee on who is going to win,” the NPBA president said.

#The executive team has been vocal about their goals to transform NPBA basketball. So, on opening night, there will be a pregame show featuring performances by artists Nishie L S, and Dillon “DMAC” McKenzie as well as giveaways. Additionally, during the halftime break, the dancers of the Saxons Superstars will provide entertainment to usher in the second half.

#In efforts to reach a larger audience, the rematch will be broadcasted live by ZNS on November 11.

#The theme of the upcoming 2023-24 NPBA season is: “The year of the player” which is a dedication to active players and persons that have contributed to the growth of the night league. The league’s respective divisions have been renamed in honour of Derrick “Bat” Ferguson and Michael “Boshang” Cooper, the longest serving players in the association.

#This season will feature a record number of teams across both divisions with 23 set to compete.

#Twelve teams will be competing in division one, including the Giants, Rockets, Sand Dollar High Flyers, Caro Contractor Shockers, Leno Regulators, UB Mingoes, TMT Giants, Tucker Boys Mumbas, Zulu Media Great Whites, Investment Development Rebels, Centerville Stompers and Brandon Deli Kings. With a $10,000 prize up for grabs for the champions, competition will be stiff from the opening tip-off.

#Ten teams will look to dethrone the Your Essential Store Giants in division two. The teams vying to knock them off are the Rockets, Cyber Tech Marlins, Produce Exchange Rockets, BIBT Great Whites, Mekaddish Millionaires, Rhythm Rebels, Investment Development Rebels, Sand Dollar High Flyers, Heatwave and Javon Medical Shockers.

#Michael “Furley” Bain Jr, of the Giants team, said the defending champions are ready for business.

#“Our expectation stays the same, we are the defending champions and we are excited to get the season started. We know that opening night is going to be a tough battle that is probably going to set the tone for the rest of the season for us and we are looking forward to a high intensity battle come November 11,” Bain said.

#Ryan Turnquest, of the Rockets, is ready to avenge last season’s NPBA Finals loss. “We basically kept our core players, we made maybe two additions to the team and last year the Giants slipped away because of one or two injuries but we are not gonna let that happen this year. Opening night is going to be pretty exciting,” Turnquest said.

#Following the season opener at the Kendal GL Isaacs Gymnasium, the regular season games will continue at the CI Gibson Gymnasium.

#Repairs to the roof and floor of the AF Adderley Gymnasium are ongoing and expected to wrap up by December.

#The 2023-24 NPBA season continues until March of next year.