Adidas expects record field in Streetball series

Adidas street basketball, the best game of hoops outside the standard 5-versus-5 full court competition, is back, and it promises to be the biggest streetball contest ever in its history.

Registration is now on-going for interested participants to the adidas Streetball Challenge 2003, which is expected to draw a record number of participating teams as adidas, the tournament sponsor, again accommodates even the youngest of basketball enthusiasts in the country.

This, aside from the fact that more squads will be allowed to enter and compete for the national crowns at stake as the tournament goes to 11 key cities.

"It has always been our vision to allow more players in the country to take part and play in the adidas Streetball Challenge," declares John Alonte, president and managing director of adidas Philippines. "We’ve been wanting it for years, and we are just too glad that finally, this year, it will be happening. Expanding the competition plays a major part in adidas’ strong commitment to the grassroots development of the game of basketball in the country."

The four divisions are: the centerpiece Seniors Division, for those 16-19 years old (male); the Girls Division, 19 years old and under; the Juniors Division, 13-15 years old (male) and the Midgets Division, 9-12 years old (male).

The adidas Streetball Challenge is a part of the three-year integrated sports marketing program of adidas Philippines, which aims to establish adidas as the leading performance sports brand in the country. "We are very proud of this program," says adidas Philippines marketing director Angelica Suiza. "We only aim to help our athletes perform better not only with our products but with specialized programs they truly need."

The adidas Streetball Challenge 2003 kicks off hostilities on March 29-30 for its National Capital Region (NCR) eliminations at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, where streetball squads in all divisions from all over the NCR and nearby provinces battle it out for slots in the National Finals.

Next stops are as follows: RDS Sta. Rosa and Divine Word College, Legaspi City on April 5-6 (four divisions); St. Louis University in Baguio City on April 12-13 (senior division only); RDS Pampanga on April 25-27; University of San Agustin in Iloilo (seniors) and at the University of St, La Salle in Bacolod both on May 17-18, SM City Cebu on May 30-June 1 (four divisions); Ateneo de Zamboanga and Don Mariano Marcos Gym in Cagayan de Oro both on June 14-15 (seniors division); and Gaisano Mall in Davao on June 27-29 (four divisions).

Regional Champions from each division will receive P5, 000 cash and P10, 000 worth of adidas sports gear and trophy. Runners-up, on the other hand, will settle for P2, 500 cash and P5, 000 worth of adidas sports gear and trophy.