The Jr. NBA action kicked up another gear in Abu Dhabi for the second weekend of thrilling action.
In the boys’ competition, Horizon Private School (Philadelphia 76ers) were beaten 24-15 by Summit International School (Boston Celtics) at American Community School of Abu Dhabi. But the scoreline only told part of the story.
Victorious Zakrya Yahya Mari managed to net two-thirds of his team’s points (18/24), while Omar Amir Ismail shone in defeat with 14 out of 15 points.
James Magno earned the Man-of-the-Match honours when Abu Dhabi International Private School MBZ (Utah Jazz) defeated The Philippine Global School Team B (Oklahoma City Thunder) 21-8. He was content with the personal achievement and wanted to “have fun” once again in the next game.
He said: “Honestly, it’s amazing, because I didn’t expect to do well against a very good team, so I’m thankful for being player of the game and I hope we have fun in the next game.”
Cranleigh School (Washington Wizards), in the girls’ tournament, earned their second-successive big win – this time by 48-4 versus Our Own English School (Atlanta Hawks). It was also the same tale for Summit International School (Memphis Grizzlies) who prevailed 20-3 versus ADNOC Schools, Abu Dhabi (New Orleans Pelicans).
The Jr. NBA is part of a ground-breaking, multi-year partnership between the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). It aims to teach youngsters about the fundamentals of the game, while also promoting the values of teamwork, respect, determination and community.
Winners – across 72 games, including play-offs – will gain the chance to watch October’s ground-breaking live NBA pre-season matches in the UAE capital. Scouts will also select one boy and one girl to experience the basketball education of a lifetime at the NBA’s summer camp in Europe.
More than 450 players have been registered for the 30-team event, separated into 20 boys’ teams and 10 girls’ teams, which concludes with May 21’s Jr. NBA Finals. Branded playing kits were provided by the NBA for six divisions, with five teams in each.
Head to Instagram and follow the verified @jrnbauae account. There you will find everything you need from match schedules, to results, action pictures and amazing videos showcasing the incredible talents on display.
Use the following hashtags to join the conversation: #JrNBA, #NBAinAbuDhabi and #JrNBALeague.
