The awards function for the biggest basketball tournament, the National Basketball Federation of T&T (NBFT&T) National Club Championships, turned out to be a mediocre ceremony at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Friday evening. President of the NBFT&T Brian Manning, and the sponsors, were notably absent and only a handful of persons attended the function. The event which was scheduled to start at 6 pm got off nearly two hours later. The only two members of the NBFT&T present were Vice-President Finance Conrad Pierre and Vice-President Technical and Training Major David Benjamin. The sport's Technical Director Obadiah Asher was also in attendence.
Preparations for the function, which was postponed from the previous week, were not properly put in place, as there was no federation or sponsors banner on display to show support for the biggest prize money tournament in the history of T&T basketball. A couple of persons including two television cameramen who arrived for the 6 pm start, eventually left an hour and a half later, since it was unclear what time the event would get underway.
When the programme eventually got started, Pierre, who acted as the chairperson of the proceedings, said an administrative breakdown was responsible for the sad state of affairs. "While there are just a few soldiers standing, the war must go on and so we have to complete our task," said Pierre. Major Benjamin, who delivered the feature address, said basketball has returned to T&T. "While there are challenges and obstacles, the sport has to go on, especially for the benefit of the young people. Sport can bring back T&T to the place it once was, but we have to work together. The federation wants to ensure that the sport never dies in T&T," he said.
Individual Awards:
Steven Lewis Defence Force - MVP (Men)
Rhonda John-Davis Defence Force - MVP (Women)
Derrick Boxhill Defence Force - Best Guard (Men)
Stephanie Isaac Brian Chase - Best Guard (Women)
Kurt Christian Shak Attack - Best Forward (Men)
Rhonda John-Davis Defence Force - Best Forward (Women)
Sean Lawerence Shak Attack - Best Centre (Men)
Patrice Edwards Straker Nets - Best Centre (Women)
Mervyn Jackson Defence Force - Best Coach (Men)
Anthony Tannis Defence Force - Best Coach (Women)
Dennison Charles Defence Force - Best Dressed Coach
Miguel Williams Petro Jazz - Best Defensive Player (Men)
Patrice Edwards Straker Nets - Best Defensive Player (Women)
Steven Lewis Defence Force - Best Offensive Player (Men)
Rhonda John-Davis Defence Force - Best Offensive Player (Women)
Kurt Christian Shak Attack - Most Assists (Men)
Stephanie Isaac Brian Chase - Most Assists (Women)
Andrew Ifill Royal Extra Lions - Most Rebounds (Men)
Alicia Liverpool Defence Force - Most Rebounds (Women)
Miguel Williams Petro Jazz - Most Blocks (Men)
Patrice Edwards Straker Nets - Most Blocks (Women)
Kenneth Roberts Shak Attack - Most Steals (Men)
Candice Guererro Straker Nets - Most Steals (Women)