Elmer Jove is was host to the Filipino Basketball tournament that took place in the gym of Gordon F. Kells high school July 14 and 15. His first year of hosting was a success.
“Filipino people love to play basketball we are very passionate with it,” Jove said, “We have fun playing together and competing. It’s almost like hockey. Canadian are passionate about hockey, Filipino’s even though we lack height, love to play basketball.”
Seven teams played in the tournament this year; five were senior’s team and two junior teams. One junior team this year had a mix of Canadians and Filipino’s and Jove said it gave him and idea.
“We are thinking in Carlyle to make a tournament once a week, inviting Canadian players too, and having mixed teams play,” said Jove. “It adds balance.”
The Filipino Basketball Tournament has been running for nine years. When it initially started it ran for six years straight, then the host at the time retired and the tournament had to be postponed for two years until Jove became the new host and organizer for the event.
Teams have come as far away as Regina in the past to the tournament, but its main focus is on the Southeast Corner of Saskatchewan. This year teams from Oxbow, Kipling, Estevan, Weyburn, Carnduff, and of coarse Carlyle. The final match this year was between Weyburn and Weyburn won Carlyle with only a few points difference.
“I’m taking their trophy to Regina to get it engraved,” said Jove, who himself has been playing basketball for almost 40 years. “I still play, but I’m only good for five minutes of competitive (basketball) now.
