Recap: Alberta's first ever Jr. NBA World Championship qualifier
Alberta Basketball Association (ABA) and NBA Canada partnered to host the very first NBA Jr. World Championship Alberta qualifying event, on May 19 and 20 in Calgary.
A terrific weekend of competition wrapped up with Genesis defeating the CBA Cobras to win the boys' championship, while in the girls' final, Genesis posted a 39-29 victory over DeVelop.
The Alberta champs will now play their British Columbia counterparts in the West Regional Final, June 2 at the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton. The winners of those match-ups will advance to the Canada Regional Final, June 15-17 in St. Catherines, Ont., where they will compete to become Canadian champs and earn the right to represent their country as part of the inaugural Jr. NBA World Championship at Walt Disney World in Florida this August.
“NBA and NBA Canada have provided a new and exciting opportunity for U14 players to be part of a global event,” says Paul Sir, ABA’s Executive Director. “Alberta Basketball is pleased to have partnered with them to bring the qualifier in Calgary and host the regional championship in Edmonton. Congratulations to the tournament winners and best of luck against B.C.”
At the Alberta qualifying tournament, Zion Brown and Leah Travers won the Gatorade G awards, recognizing heart, hustle and passion.
The Jr. NBA World Championship, a first-of-its kind global youth basketball tournament for the top teams aged 14 and under from around the world, will have boys and girls divisions, each comprised of 16 regional teams. It will be contested Aug. 7-12 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Click for more information about the Jr. NBA World Championship.
The NBA Jr. Canada West Regional Final will take place alongside the 8th annual Alberta Basketball FIBA 3x3, which is Canada’s largest and longest-running FIBA-endorsed 3x3 event. Click for more information about Alberta Basketball 3x3.
