After an extended wait, an annual Thanksgiving weekend basketball occasion is again in Regina this yr.
The Saskatchewan Asian Basketball Invitational Tournament, also called SABIT, runs this weekend after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
The tournament started in 2003 and step by step turned an annual occasion over the Thanksgiving weekend for a lot of, together with individuals who had moved away and can be dwelling for the vacation.
Mick Lauagan is likely one of the gamers. He’s been a part of the tournament since 2004.
“They model you with a nickname when you play. You form of have to earn your stripes in this tournament,” stated Lauagan.
He stated he is dedicating his sport to his late good friend, Leonard Mukasa Rogers, who additionally shared a love for basketball.
Nine groups from across Western Canada will participate in this yr’s five-game tournament, which began Saturday and finishes on Sunday at Regina Christian School.
Lauagan stated he at all times needed to play competitively in the tournament when he was youthful.
“I knew my potential, you realize.… I simply needed to win,” he stated.
‘A nice platform to get gamers observed’
“We ask the most effective gamers from every province to come out and compete in our tournament,” stated Bernie Hernando, who is likely one of the organizers.
He additionally stated the tournament has advanced and diversified because it started.
Players have to be 50 per cent Asian to compete in the tournament. Teams might now have up to two gamers of non-Asian descent.
With basketball gaining reputation over the previous couple of years in town, many gamers who’ve participated in the tournament have continued on to play in skilled leagues abroad, stated Hernando.
“It’s an awesome platform to get gamers observed and actually stand out inside their very own communities as nicely,” he stated.