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Washington D.C. — All roads lead to Metro Washington DC as it hosts the biggest Labor Day Weekend Basketball Tournament on August 31 to September 2. Dubbed as the “Olympics” of Filipino-American basketball, the North American Basketball Association (NABA) tournament is a basketball frenzy participated in by 22 cities from across the USA, Canada and UK. This event showcases the athleticism of over 1,400 athletes in 11 divisions, 107 teams, with ages ranging from as young as 8 to over 45 years old, competing in a total of 220 games.
Metro DC’s Filipino-American Youth Basketball Association (FYBA) is hosting this most awaited annual tournament. NABA 2012 becomes extra special as it celebrates NABA’s Silver Jubilee and FYBA’s 5th Anniversary. Philippine Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. congratulates NABA and FYBA for this event and notes, “rest assured of the Embassy’s full support to your recreational sports activities and community outreach programs that are geared toward the advancement of the Filipino-American youth.”
No less than the biggest TV Network in the Philippines, GMA Network, leads the roster of FYBA’s major sponsors and will provide exclusive media coverage for the NABA 2012 tournament. Other major sponsors include All Nippon Airways (ANA), Computer Packages Inc. and AJER Design & Embroidery.
Opening ceremonies on August 31 promises to be a big party. It will be held at the tournament’s main venue at NoVa Dome in Chantilly, Virginia. It kicks off with the parade of teams, followed by a program of power-packed entertainment, keynote and inspirational messages. Local talent Ivy Rose, an all-girl rock band featured in America’s Got Talent will be the main highlight during the entertainment section of the program. Ceremonies will be topped by a night of elegance and essence as seven ambassadors of beauty and brains from different cities compete for the Miss NABA 2012 title. Games will be held at NoVa Dome, nZone, Lifetime Fitness and Dulles Sportsplex. The tournament’s main hotel is the Marriott Westfields Hotel in Chantilly, Virginia.
NABA Commissioner Dr. Ron Damasco also expressed his message of thanks to FYBA for the countless hours and efforts it continues to pour in to ensure success of this event. “I commend FYBA for hosting this event, an honor and privilege that they richly deserve,” shared Dr. Damasco.
Robert Banez, a DC Juvi player who played in six NABA tournaments, expresses his excitement. “I feel that every year, NABA gets better. Aside from hosting the event, the teams coming from California and London competing in my division is unprecedented” shared Banez.
As the countdown continues, NABA Committee, officers, players, coaches, parents, volunteers, sponsors and the entire FYBA community intensify their all out preparations from conditioning their teams, undertaking countless fundraising activities, and literally working day and night to ensure success of this Fil-Am Community event. “We are all excited and at the same time honored and proud as our thriving Filipino-American community in the nation’s capital has this privilege to host this momentous event. We owe it a lot to our volunteers and we thank them for their selfless efforts. It is indeed Filipino Bayanihan in action!” notes FYBA’s President Russell Casapao.
Driven by the recent London Olympic spirit, adrenalin is pumping even more as the NABA Labor Day Weekend invades Metro Washington DC. Game on NABA!
More up to date information on this tournament can be viewed via www.fybaonline.com.
