Teams set for JOVOC OPEN basketball tournament

Basketball teams countrywide are set to battle it out in the annual Jovoc Open basketball tournament, which will be organised for the sixth time at St. Joseph's vocational School Mbarara.

The tournament will take place on March 10 at St. Joseph's Vocational School in Nyamitanga, Mbarara district.

Forty multicultural teams from secondary schools, universities, clubs and corporates will take part in this year's edition.

University's defending champions Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi men  will battle it out with new entrants Makerere University, MUBS Nakawa, and clubs such as Buddo Giants, Salaama Shield Warriors Lyantonde, Leo Bourque Basketball club, Bishop Barhams University Kabale, Mountains of the Moon University of Fort Portal and Nakivale Basketball Club. Mbarara University which has played in all the five editions is expected to put up a good show.

Jovoc Open is the only basketball tournament organised in the western Uganda and it has proved to be a a game changer in nurturing talent in the area and the man behind the idea, Alex Byamukama, is more optimistic about the growth of the game in the area.

 
"We hope to capture more and more schools and universities in the region," Open says.

Drama and entertainment is expected in the secondary schools category as the two times champions and also the defending champions Kabale Trinity College Boys wrestle archrivals Nyakasura School (two times champions), Jovoc, Masaka Secondary School, St. Henrys Col. Kitovu, Ntare School, Mbrarara High School and Katatumba Academy.

New entrants Bethel Convenant College, St. Mary's Rushoroza, Ibanda SS, St. Paul's seminary Bukinda, St. Mary's Vocational School Kyamuhunga and Nakivale Secondary School are also hoping to upset the old guard.

In the women's category, defending champions Uganda Martyrs University Nkozi Ladies will battle it out with bitter rivals Mbarara University ladies, Bishop Barhams University Kabale,  Makerere University, MUBS and Buddo Giants.

In the girl's category, defending champions, Maryhill High school is ready to tussle it out with new entrants Exodus College Wakiso, St. Michael International School. Kyebambe Girls, Nyakasura School, St. Mary's Vocational  Kyamuhunga, St. Mary's Rushoroza and Nakivale SS in a fight where trophies, medals, MVP awards and other individual awards will be up for grabs.

The tournament which Started in 2013 with 11 teams also hosted FUBA president Ambrose Tashobya last year. What started as a small initiative has now grown into a big tournament and 40 teams are expected on Saturday.