Avant-Garde launches basketball championship and trophy

Monday, 19 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Avant-Garde recently launched its own basketball championship at a media briefing. The event, which will commence officially on 23 May and conclude on the 21 June, will be conducted jointly at Police Park and the Henry Pedris Stadium. Two teams, Avant-Garde A and Avant-Garde B, will be represented by foreign players, while the sponsors of the event, Avant-Garde Security Services and Avant-Garde Maritime Services, will be obtaining the services of a foreign player for the Sri Lankan Police as well.

To this effect, during the media briefing, it was held that the Police Park basketball courts will be upgraded in lieu of the championship, and the Police basketball team will be provided the expertise of a foreign player. The tournament will offer total prize money of Rs. 900,000, with the champions taking Rs. 500,000, the runners up taking Rs. 250,000 and the second runners-up Rs. 150,000. Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadipathi, addressing the launch, spoke of his vision of making basketball as popular a game as rugby in the country. Senadipathi has been the driving force behind Avant-Garde since its inception in 1996. The basketball championship will see players from such parts of the world as Lithuania, Serbia and Nigeria.