GBF Independence 3×3 Championship set to ignite Diamond Jubilee celebrations

…Tournament set for May 17 at CASH

As Guyana continues its month-long celebration leading up to the nation’s Diamond Jubilee Independence anniversary, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), will stage the highly anticipated Independence 3×3 Championship on May 17 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown.

The one-day tournament will feature 10 of the country’s top teams battling for supremacy and a lucrative winner’s purse of $300,000 in what is expected to be one of the marquee sporting events on the Ministry’s Independence calendar.
The championship forms part of a wider series of sporting activities being hosted throughout May as Guyana celebrates 60 years as an independent nation.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has thrown its full support behind the tournament, covering all prize monies for the event.
The second-place team will receive $200,000, while the third-place finisher will pocket $100,000. Additionally, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) will earn a cash prize of $25,000.
The competition will showcase talent from across the country, with four Linden-based clubs, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Retrieve Raiders, Victory Valley Royals and Block 22 Flames, set to compete against Georgetown sides Ravens, Colts, Pacesetters and Eagles.
Rounding out the field are a combined Berbice team and Guyana’s National U23 team, both expected to add further intrigue and competitiveness to the tournament.
According to the tournament format, the 10 teams will be divided into two groups, with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the semi-finals. The winners of those encounters will then move on to the championship game, while third place will be determined based on standings accumulated on the FIBA 3×3 platform.
Beyond the Independence festivities, the tournament also carries significant importance for the GBF’s long-term international ambitions.
The federation views the championship as a critical opportunity to fine-tune preparations for Guyana’s national teams ahead of upcoming appearances at the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Commonwealth Games.
Guyana is set to make its debut in 3×3 basketball at both events, marking another major milestone in the continued development of the sport locally.