Sportsmax to broadcast Jamaica Basketball Showcase set for July 27-29 to international audience
That was the overarching theme expressed at the launch of the 2023 JBS that place on Tuesday, July 19, at Express Fitness at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston. The event was attended by representatives from SportsMax, the Jamaica Basketball Association, and Express Fitness as well as players from the participating teams.
The 2023 JBS is scheduled to take place from July 27-29, 2023, at the Donald Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology and is expected to be a major showcase for basketball talent in Jamaica. Six Under-20 teams including defending champions PHASE 1 Academy, Purple Power, Hoop Factory Blues, Camperdown Giants, Blue Mahoe Basketball and Caribbean Basketball Academy, will compete for JMD$300,000 in prize money. PHASE 1 will take on Purple Power in the opening match.
Paul Campbell, CEO of Sports Innovators Group (SIG), the event's organizer, said that the 2023 JBS promises to be "bigger and better" than the inaugural event in 2022." He added that the event is expected to "reignite some interest in basketball" in Jamaica.
Campbell cited the addition of SportsMax as a broadcast partner as a major reason for the event's growth. He said that SportsMax's reach will help to expose the JBS to a wider audience, both in Jamaica and around the world.
Meanwhile, Nicholas Matthews, CEO of SportsMax, said that the network is "excited" to be broadcasting the 2023 JBS." Matthews expressed the view that SportsMax is committed to "developing local and regional sports," and that the JBS is a "great opportunity" to do just that.
According to the broadcaster’s CEO, SportsMax, who have entered into a five-year agreement with SIG will be providing premium coverage of the JBS, including live broadcasts on the SportsMax channels and streaming on the Sportsmax app, on CEEN TV as well as the Sports Innovators Group website.
Paulton Gordon, President of the Jamaica Basketball Association, believes JBS is "a huge success" and that the association is "looking forward to an ongoing partnership" with Sports Innovators Group."
He said that the JBS has helped to "revitalize basketball in Jamaica," and that the association is "committed to working with Sports Innovators Group to make the JBS even bigger and better in the years to come."
Nicholas Lynch, CEO of Express Fitness, said that the company is "very much invested into developing sport through youth" and explained that the JBS is "an excellent opportunity" for Express Fitness to "continue that support."
Lynch also said that Express Fitness will be providing a number of resources to the JBS, including fitness training for the players and support for the event's marketing and promotion.