High hoops for youth basketball in Phuket

PHUKET: THE PHUKET Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) and the Phuket Basketball Club’s second annual provincial basketball competition is now underway.

The opening ceremony of the “Basketball PPAO Phuket Junior League 2011” was held at Saphan Hin, Gymnasium 1, on June 25 and the league will run until September 23 with matches starting at 4pm every Friday.

OrBorJor President, Paiboon Upatising, said this week that outstanding players from the two leagues will be invited to train with the Phuket Basketball Youth Squad. Eighteen players have already been selected in preparation for the 2012 Thailand Youth Games to be held in Phuket next March.

“If any of those selected perform particularly well, they may even get funding to continue into university education,” added Mr Paiboon.

The competition is for players under 17 years of age with a boys league of nine teams and a separate girls league with six teams.

Schools and colleges represented in the boys league include: Satree Phuket School, Muang Thalang School, Kajornkietsuksa School, Phuket Thaihua School, Phutthamongkolnimit School, Phuket Wittayalai School, Muslim Wittaya Phuket School, Phuket Technology College and Phuket Vocational Education College.

The girls league include: Satree Phuket School, Kathuwittaya School, Muang Thalang School, Kajornkietsuksa School, Phuket Wittayalai School and Phuket Vocational Education College.

The winning team from each league will receive 10,000 baht, 5,000 baht for the first runner-up, 3,000 baht for the second runner-up and 2,000 baht for third place, in addition to trophies and medals.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan