Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Tivoli All Stars' Shawn Morris proudly displays the pre-season championship trophy won by his team recently. The presentation was made to the three-time league champions during the Berger Paints Division One Basketball opening ceremony and dress parade at the National Stadium Courts yesterday.RAIN PUT a damper on things at yesterday's Berger Paints Division One basketball opening ceremony and dress parade at the National Stadium Courts but the spirit of the players was high as they anticipated the start of the season.
Fifteen teams paraded including newcomers Rainbow Storms of Montego Bay and West Cumberland Flames of St. Catherine. Denham Town Wizards walked away with the top prize for the best-dressed team with the Jamaica Defence Force placing second and defending league and pre-season champions Tivoli All Stars third.
Berger have been involved with the league for more than 33 years and the sponsors expect more top-class competition this season.
Said the company's marketing manager, Paul Alexander: "Berger stands for excellence in both product and service and we are quite happy with the growth in basketball which is why we keep coming back year after year. The organisation and standard of play are excellent."
Yesterday's two opening games were postponed due to rain. Storms were to play former champions Braves Chiefs while Tivoli All Stars were to face Ocho Rios team Buckfield.
The next set of games is scheduled for Thursday at the National Stadium.
Cumberland take on Pure Nets at 6:00 p.m. while Blazing Panthers tackle Swift Sons afterwards.
