#ClutchBasket: Notas sobre el Baloncesto

 

BROOKLYN NETS’ KEVIN DURANT FINED

 

NEW YORK, April 2, 2021 – Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has been fined $50,000 for using offensive and derogatory language on social media, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations. Durant has acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate.

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PLAYSTATION®5 NAMED OFFICIAL CONSOLE OF

THE NBA 2K LEAGUE

 

– Multiyear Partnership Will See NBA 2K League Teams and Players Compete on PS5™

During Games and Events–

 

– Partnership Marks First-of-Its-Kind for PS5 Consoles with an Esports League –

 

NEW YORK, April 2, 2021 – The NBA 2K League today announced a landmark multiyear partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment (“SIE”) that makes PlayStation®5 (PS5™) the official console of the NBA 2K League.  Beginning this month, the 23 NBA 2K League teams and 138 players in the league will compete on PS5 during games and events.  The partnership marks the first-of-its-kind for PS5 consoles with an esports league, and the first console partnership for the NBA 2K League, which will tip off its fourth season in May.

 

“NBA 2K League players are the best in the world at what they do, so it’s only fitting that they compete on the best gaming equipment in the world,” said NBA 2K League President Brendan Donohue.  “PlayStation is a long-standing global leader in interactive entertainment, and we are thrilled to be able to leverage their gaming expertise and technology to create the optimal experience for NBA 2K League players and fans.”

 

To tip off the partnership, PS5 will serve as the presenting partner of the upcoming “NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown,” which will take place Friday, April 9 – Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m. ET.  The online 3-on-3 tournament will feature NBA 2K League players, fans and social media influencers, all competing in NBA 2K21’s “The City” for a share of a $25,000 prize pool.  Fans can watch the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown games on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.

 

Prior to the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown, PlayStation will host an online “Three for All Showdown Qualifier” tournament on Monday, April 5 – Tuesday, April 6 for PS5 players based in the United States.  The winner of the online 1-on-1 qualifier tournament will go on to compete on a 3-on-3 team with two influencers in the NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown competition on Friday, April 9 – Saturday, April 10*.

 

Throughout the partnership, the NBA 2K League plans to host global fan tournaments featuring league‑related prizing through PlayStation’s Competition Center, an online platform that offers exclusive content, tips and tricks from the best players in the world and live coverage of some of the biggest esports events in the world.

 

In the coming months, PlayStation and the NBA 2K League will collaborate on a custom content series that will run during NBA 2K League broadcasts and on the league’s social and digital channels.  Additionally, PlayStation will have a presence in league broadcasts through branding and signage in the league’s physical and virtual studios.

 

Additional details about the 2021 NBA 2K League season will be announced in the coming weeks.  For more information on the NBA 2K League, fans can follow the NBA 2K League on Twitter (NBA2KLeague), Instagram (nba2kleague), Facebook (NBA 2K League), TikTok (nba2kleague), Twitch (NBA2KLeague) and YouTube (NBA 2K League) and visit NBA2KLeague.com.

 

*See full rules.  Participation in NBA 2KL Three for All Showdown is subject to satisfaction of all NBA 2K League requirements.

 

“PlayStation” and “PS5” are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

 

 

 

WNBA DRAFT 2021 PRESENTED BY STATE FARM^®

TO BE HELD ON APRIL 15

 

– League’s 25^th Annual Draft to be Exclusively Televised by ESPN from 7-9 p.m. ET –

 

– Virtual Draft to Highlight Elements of the League’s Upcoming 25^th Season

and the Players’ Vaccine Awareness and Education, and Provide Opportunities for Fan Engagement –

 

NEW YORK, April 1, 2021 – The WNBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm® will be held on Thursday, April 15. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET, and top prospects will take part virtually. The draft will also be available on the ESPN App.

 

“With continued support from and in partnership with State Farm and ESPN, we look forward to bringing optimistic moments to life through the announcements of the names of this year’s top WNBA draft picks,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The opportunity for these elite athletes to reach this pinnacle and share this special moment with their families, friends and WNBA fans, even in a virtual format, will make for a truly memorable night especially as we commemorate the league’s 25th season and continue building momentum for the future of the league.”

 

In line with their commitment to vaccine education during the off-season, the telecast will feature WNBA players discussing COVID vaccines with a focus on health equity and will provide previews of the league’s historic, upcoming 25th season, featuring guest appearances from WNBA legends, including Tina Thompson, the first player selected in the inaugural WNBA Draft of April 28, 1997. Pre-draft festivities will tip off the morning of April 15 on wnba.com, the WNBA App, and other WNBA social media platforms when the Virtual Orange Carpet will give fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the top draft prospects as they showcase their personalities and their unique styles while preparing for this life-changing moment.

 

Through the WNBA App and wnba.com, fans will be able to choose from multiple digital activations throughout the evening, all designed to enhance the draft viewing experience, including “Pick Your Pick” and “Draft Chat.” Through “Pick Your Pick,” fans will cast their votes on who they believe should be the next player to hear their name called on draft night. The Draft Chat room, which will go live at 6 p.m. ET, is designed to create a sense of community for WNBA fans, will give fans unique access to inside takes and live analysis of key draft prospects and their potential impact on teams and the league, as well as an opportunity to hear from special guests. 2

 

The Dallas Wings own the top pick in the draft, as well as the No. 2, 5 and 7 picks in the first round. If the Wings keep and use the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, they will become the first WNBA team ever to make the top two picks in a single draft. Dallas also could become the first team to make four first-round selections in a single draft.

 

Additional information regarding the telecast of the WNBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm will be announced in the near future. The league is conducting ongoing planning for its 25th season, including the start of training camp in late April and the anticipated tip-off of the WNBA regular season in mid May, and will provide updates regarding any changes to key dates.

 

About State Farm®:

The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. Its 19,200 agents and 57,500 employees serve approximately 85 million policies and accounts – which includes auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 36 on the 2020 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

 

About the WNBA Entering its 25th season in 2021, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

 

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball – and women’s sports overall – with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s new partnership platform, WNBA Changemakers. Inaugural WNBA Changemakers include AT&T, Deloitte and Nike. In addition, during the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues.

 

For more information, visit WNBA.com.

 

Daly, Giannakis and Messina headline FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021

APRIL 1, 2021 MIES (Switzerland) - Dream Team coach Chuck Daly (USA - posthumously), Panagiotis Giannakis (Greece) and Ettore Messina (Italy) lead a star-studded FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Daly held the reins of arguably the most famous team in international basketball history, guiding the United States to the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. While he had success as both a high school and college coach, Daly was best known for his almost two decades at the helm of NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons, whom he steered to titles in 1989 and 1990. Giannakis achieved legendary status in Greece, spearheading his national team's run to glory at FIBA EuroBasket 1987 as the team's point guard, a title won after an upset of the defending champions Soviet Union. Having also led Greece to the Final of FIBA EuroBasket 1989 and a maiden Olympic appearance in 1996, Giannakis finished his national team career with an impressive 351 caps. He also enjoyed great success at the club level, winning continental competitions with Aris and Panathinaikos. Messina led Italy's national team to a runners-up finish at FIBA EuroBasket 1997 and in his more than three decades of coaching, he has cemented his reputation as one of the greatest European coaches of all time; among the many title triumphs his teams have celebrated were four EuroLeague championships. The rest of the Class of 2021 is comprised of a glittering list of players and coaches that have left and in some cases continue to leave indelible marks on basketball. The inductees include Olympian and three-time FIBA AfroBasket winner Mathieu Faye (Senegal); Olympic gold medalist and world champion Sergey Tarakanov (Russia); three-time NBA All-Star Detlef Schrempf (Germany); leading scorer of the 1956 Olympics for bronze medal winners Uruguay Oscar Moglia (Uruguay - posthumously); five-time Czechoslovakian League champion and FIBA EuroBasket runner-up Stanislav Kropilak (Slovakia); Olympic silver and bronze medalist Penka Stoyanova (Bulgaria - posthumously); Olympic silver and bronze medalist Haixia Zheng (China), FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup runner-up and FIBA Women's EuroBasket champion Hana Horakova (Czech Republic) and Olympic silver and bronze-medal winning coach Tom Maher (Australia), who has coached in six consecutive Olympics since 1996. These 12 basketball legends that hail from 12 different countries across six continents collectively captured nine Olympic medals, achieved six World Cup and 23 Continental Cup podium finishes. They also accounted for 75 club competition championships and 12 international club competition titles. The Class of 2021 marks the first time that players from China, Germany, Senegal and Slovakia are inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. Here is the full list of inductees that make up the 2021 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame: Players Mathieu Faye (Senegal) Hana Horakova (Czech Republic) Stanislav Kropilak (Slovakia) Oscar Moglia (Uruguay - posthumously) Detlef Schrempf (Germany) Penka Stoyanova (Bulgaria - posthumously) Sergey Tarakanov (Russia) Panagiotis Giannakis (Greece) Haixia Zheng (China) Coaches Chuck Daly (USA - posthumously) Tom Maher (Australia) Ettore Messina (Italy) The Class of 2021 will be enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame together with the Class of 2020, which was announced on Tuesday after being deferred for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital ceremony will take place on June 18. In the weeks leading up to the Induction Ceremony, profiles of every inductee will appear on FIBA.basketball.         NBA AND NBPA ANNOUNCE COVID-19 TEST RESULTS NEW YORK, March 31, 2021 – Of the 481 players tested for COVID-19 since March 24, one new player has returned a confirmed positive test.    Anyone who has returned a confirmed positive test, or has been identified as having been in close contact to an infected person, is isolated or quarantined until they are cleared under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidance.  PHOENIX SUNS VICE CHAIRMAN JAHM NAJAFI COMMITS $10 MILLION TO NBA FOUNDATION   NEW YORK, March 31, 2021 – Phoenix Suns Vice Chairman and CEO of Najafi Companies Jahm Najafi has pledged a $10 million commitment to the NBA Foundation, it was announced today by NBA Foundation Executive Director Greg Taylor.  Najafi’s contribution, $1 million per year over the next 10 years, will further the Foundation’s mission to drive economic empowerment for Black communities through employment and career advancement.  His donation is in addition to the $10 million the Phoenix Suns have already pledged to the Foundation as part of the $300 million commitment made by the 30 NBA teams in initial funding.   “This past year I have been inspired by the NBA family’s efforts to advance social justice, especially through the Board of Governor’s long-term commitment in creating the NBA Foundation,” said Najafi.  “I’ve seen firsthand how economic opportunity can change lives, and I look forward to supporting the Foundation over the next 10 years as they impact the lives of Black youth.”   Since 2002, Najafi – an Alternate Governor of the Phoenix Suns – has been the CEO of Najafi Companies, an international private investment firm servicing the sports, consumer, media, technology and real estate industries.  With a strong passion for social impact, Najafi, together with Colin Kaepernick, recently created the Mission Advancement Corp., a special purpose acquisition company committed to partnering, investing and advancing a world class consumer company with the aim of creating meaningful financial, social and cultural value.    “The NBA Foundation is grateful for Mr. Najafi’s generous commitment,” said Taylor.  “As a proven leader in sports and business and advocate for social justice, we look forward to working together toward our shared goal of creating greater opportunity and outcomes for Black young people.”   The NBA Foundation will seek to increase access and support for high school, college-aged and career-ready individuals, and assist national and local organizations that provide skills training, mentorship, coaching and pipeline development in NBA markets and communities across the United States and Canada.  As a public charity, the Foundation will continue to work strategically to develop additional programming and funding sources that deepen the NBA family’s commitment to racial equality and social justice.   To learn more about the NBA Foundation, please visit www.nbafoundation.com. Video from virtual ceremony available HERE.     SAN ANTONIO’S PATTY MILLS RECEIVES FEBRUARY NBA CARES COMMUNITY ASSIST AWARD PRESENTED BY KAISER PERMANENTE   – NBA and Kaiser Permanente to Donate $10,000 to Indigenous Basketball Australia –   NEW YORK, March 31, 2021 – San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills has received the February NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his continued efforts to create opportunities that empower Indigenous young people and advance social justice in his native Australia, the NBA announced today.  The award recognizes a player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.   In February, Indigenous Basketball Australia, which was founded by Mills to provide pathways for Aboriginal Australians to play basketball, tipped off the first-ever Indigenous Community Basketball League (ICBL) for players age 14 and under in eight locations across Australia.  The tournaments, which preserve and celebrate Indigenous cultural practices, focus on basketball development and life skills education, including mental and physical well-being as well as strengthening individual identity at a critical age.  Additionally, Mills partnered with the NBA and the Jr. NBA to announce the National Indigenous Basketball Tournament (NIBT) at the Gold Coast in Queensland from April 11-13, which will provide additional on- and off-court development opportunities for 48 boys and girls.   Mills has dedicated much of his professional playing career in the United States to giving back to Australia, with a particular focus on empowering Indigenous young people and communities of color.  In 2020, he donated the remainder of his 2019-20 season salary to social justice organizations and helped launch the ‘We Got You’ campaign in collaboration with other high-profile Australian athletes, dedicated to eliminating racism, exclusion and discrimination in sports.  Mills also organized a $750,000 donation from nine Australian NBA players in the wake of the devastating Australian bushfires earlier in the year.   “Basketball as a sport has brought me happiness, joy, education and a real sense of purpose,” said Mills.  “However, not everyone has had the same opportunities as I have, which is why I'm so dedicated to using my platform, my profile and my voice to develop innovative programs like IBA, which will allow my people to really own their story.”   Mills was presented with the award during a special virtual ceremony with league, Kaiser Permanente and Spurs officials on Friday, and will also be recognized during the team’s home game tonight against the Sacramento Kings at 8:30 p.m. ET.  In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Mills’ behalf to Indigenous Basketball Australia.   The NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players share for giving back to their communities.  It honors the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.  At the end of the 2020-21 regular season, the Seasonlong NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner will be announced.  To learn more, please visit http://www.nba.com/communityassist/.   About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.2 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. about.kp.org Nash, Pesic, Volkov lead parade of icons in 2020 FIBA Hall of Fame Class MARCH 30, 2021 MIES (Switzerland) - Steve Nash (Canada), Svetislav Pesic (Serbia) and Alexander Volkov (Ukraine) are three giant figures headlining the Class of 2020 for the FIBA Hall of Fame. The Class of 2020, which wasn't announced until now due to the coronavirus pandemic, has 12 basketball icons in all. They will be enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame during a digital ceremony on June 18, together with the Class of 2021. Nash, one of his country's most celebrated players, was a point guard at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1994 in Toronto and captain of his national team at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Also the MVP of the FIBA AmeriCup 1999 in Puerto Rico after leading Canada to a runners-up finish, Nash's professional career spanned almost two decades in the NBA, where he was MVP in both 2005 and 2006. Pesic, one of the finest coaches ever, entered the profession in 1982 and enjoyed huge successes with various clubs in Europe. As a national team coach, Pesic steered hosts Germany to the FIBA EuroBasket crown in 1993 and then led Yugoslavia to glory at both FIBA EuroBasket 2001 and the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002. Volkov, one of Ukraine's most celebrated sports figures, played for the Soviet Union team that won FIBA EuroBasket 1985 in West Germany and then the 1988 Olympic gold medal in Seoul, Korea. Having enjoyed a stellar career in Europe, the big man played in the NBA from 1989 to 1992 with the Atlanta Hawks. The star-studded 2020 FIBA Hall of Fame Class features Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion Modestas Paulauskas (Lithuania); world champion, Olympic silver medalist and two-time FIBA EuroBasket winner Jure Zdovc (Slovenia); FIBA Basketball World Cup 1967 leading scorer and 236-time capped Mieczyslaw Lopatka (Poland); nine-time Japanese League champion Kenichi Sako (Japan); FIBA Women's EuroBasket winner and 204-times capped Isabelle Fijalkowski (France); four-time FIBA Women's EuroBasket bronze medalist Agnes Nemeth (Hungary); and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup runner-up Park Shin-ja (Korea). The 1996 Olympic gold-medal winning coach Tara VanDerveer (USA) and 2004 Olympic gold-medal winning coach Ruben Magnano (Argentina) are also in the 2020 FIBA Hall of Fame Class. These 12 basketball legends that come from 12 different countries across four continents combined to win five Olympic gold medals and five World Cups. They accounted for six Olympic medals, 10 World Cup podium finishes, 20 Continental Cup medals, 70 national club competition crowns and 11 international club competition titles. The Class of 2020 marks the first time that players from Canada, Hungary, Japan, Korea and Ukraine are inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. The FIBA Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be announced on Thursday, April 1. Here is the full list of inductees that make up the 2020 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame: Players Isabelle Fijalkowski (France) Mieczyslaw Lopatka (Poland) Steve Nash (Canada) Agnes Nemeth (Hungary) Park Shin-ja (Korea) Modestas Paulauskas (Lithuania) Kenichi Sako (Japan) Alexander Volkov (Ukraine) Jure Zdovc (Slovenia) Coaches Ruben Magnano (Argentina) Svetislav Pesic (Serbia) Tara VanDerveer (USA) In the weeks leading up to the Induction Ceremony profiles of every inductee will appear on FIBA.basketball. NBA DRAFT 2021 PRESENTED BY STATE FARM® TO TAKE PLACE ON JULY 29   – ESPN and ABC to Televise First Round of NBA Draft; ESPN to Air Second Round –   – Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2021 Scheduled to Be Held June 21-27 –   – NBA Draft Lottery 2021 Presented by State Farm® to Take Place on June 22 –   NEW YORK, March 29, 2021 – The NBA announced today that NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm® will take place on Thursday, July 29, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.  The first round will be televised by ESPN and ABC, and the second round will air on ESPN.   The NBA also announced additional key dates relating to NBA Draft 2021 presented by State Farm®:   NBA Draft Combine: Subject to evolving public health conditions, Microsoft Surface NBA Draft Combine 2021 is scheduled to take place Monday, June 21 through Sunday, June 27.  ESPN networks plan to televise the NBA Draft Combine, with coverage featuring five-on-five games and strength and agility testing.   NBA Draft Lottery: NBA Draft Lottery 2021 presented by State Farm® will take place on Tuesday, June 22, airing on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET.   NBA Early Entry Application and Withdrawal Deadlines: The deadline for an early entry player to apply for this year’s NBA Draft is Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.  The deadline for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Monday, July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.   Additional information regarding the Draft, Combine and Lottery, including the location for each event, will be announced as details are finalized. Contacto: Josian Omed Vázquez Díaz (787) 225-7148 “Clutch City Basketball” continúa desarrollando proyectos en favor de los jóvenes prospectos en el baloncesto local (San Juan, P.R. domingo, 28 de marzo de 2021) – Clutch City Basketball Inc. es una corporación sin fines de lucro, que desde el 2014 se especializa en la creación y desarrollo de diferentes proyectos dentro del deporte del baloncesto, así lo da a conocer su presidente y líder recreativo humacaeño, Orlando J. López Rivera. “Mi motivación para crear y trabajar con estos diferentes proyectos, ha sido el poder darles un taller de alto a nivel a todos los jóvenes de la región este, en especial a los de mi pueblo de Humacao” indicó López Rivera. El joven apoderado de los Grises de Humacao de la Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña añadió que entre los mayores logros de la organización se encuentra la organización del Torneo Abierto “Clutch City Basketball”, desde el año 2014-2015 en el barrio Collores de Humacao, donde tuvieron la participación de 10 equipos y 120 jugadores. En el 2016 en el sector Los Pinos de Humacao participaron 14 equipos y 168 jugadores. En el 2018 se llevó a cabo la competencia en varios lugares diferentes: Humacao Libih del Complejo Deportivo Osvaldo Gil Bosch y barrio Mariana de Humacao, Navarro en Gurabo, Luquilllo y Fajardo. En este tercer año contó con la participación de 16 equipos de todo Puerto Rico y 192 jugadores. Se obtuvo la oportunidad de jugar la serie final en el Coliseo Marcelo Trujillo Panisse de la ciudad gris. En el año 2016 comenzaron a trabajar en el Torneo “Christmas Night Basketball” en la cancha Humacao LIBIH. En este primer torneo navideño participaron 12 equipos y 144 jugadores. En el 2019 se instituyó el Torneo “Clutch City Basketball” Sub-25, 14 equipos participaron de toda la región este y 144 jugadores se inscribieron. En el 2018 Clutch City Basketball Inc. se dio a la tarea de tomar las riendas de los Grises de Humacao de la Liga de Baloncesto Puertorriqueña y estos jugaron sus partidos en el entonces conocido como Humacao Arena, hoy en día, Coliseo Marcelo Trujillo Panisse. En su primera temporada en esta nueva liga, el equipo culminó con marca de 12-6 y llegaron a la segunda ronda de su conferencia. Para el 2019 en su segunda temporada terminaron con marca positiva de 11-7 y una vez más arribaron a la segunda ronda de la conferencia. Para el año 2019 la organización presentó su nuevo proyecto H-City Ballers en Humacao. Programa de entrenamiento de baloncesto donde el enfoque, la disciplina y dedicación, definen su filosofía. La misión de este nuevo e innovador programa es proporcionar el mejor entrenamiento en un ambiente seguro, donde se enfatiza el desarrollo de las habilidades del jugador, dentro de un entorno saludable y competitivo. “Nuestra visión principal como organización es sacar a la juventud de las calles y poder brindarles un espacio de exposición donde se pueda practicar el deporte baloncesto. Ha sido nuestro norte desde que comenzamos a trabajar con esta iniciativa para los jóvenes. Contra viento y marea continuaremos construyendo prospectos en el baloncesto y personas que aporten positivamente a nuestro país. Con la bendición de Dios y la ayuda de muchas personas así lo haremos” expresó el líder deportivo. Para más información de estas y otras iniciativas de la organización con enfoque en el deporte se pueden comunicar al (787) 949-4704. En Facebook Grises de Humacao LBP:  https://www.facebook.com/griseslbp/, Clutch City Basketball News: https://www.facebook.com/clutchcitypr, H-City Ballers: https://www.facebook.com/hcityballers y en Instagram: @clutchcitypr https://www.instagram.com/clutchcitypr/. Greece leapfrog France in FIBA World Ranking Men, Presented by Nike MARCH 2, 2021 MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike has been updated following a thrilling third window of the FIBA Continental Cup Qualifiers, with the USA maintaining top spot and Spain, Australia, Argentina and Serbia rounding out the top five. The USA, No. 2 Spain, No. 3 Australia and No. 5 Serbia went unbeaten in the window while Argentina defeated Chile but lost to Colombia. There was movement just outside the top five, however, with Greece leapfrogging France into sixth place after both teams split their February games in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers. The Greeks lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina and rebounded with a victory over Latvia, while France, now No. 7, edged Montenegro but crashed to a heavy defeat to Great Britain. With a win and two narrow defeats in three February contests, Italy climbed from 12th to 10th in the rankings, as Brazil and Czech Republic each moved down a rung on the ladder to No. 11 and No. 12, respectively. Brazil had their two games in the third window postponed while the Czechs played in the Vilnius bubble and lost to No. 8 Lithuania and held on to take a close win against No. 37 Belgium. There were also significant upward movement for other European nations who finished the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers strong: Ukraine jumped over China to No. 28; Finland rose to No. 32 at the expense of Angola (No. 33) and Tunisia (No. 34); while Hungary climbed two spots to No. 38 after going 2-2 in the window. In Americas, Colombia gained one position and climbed to No. 66 as they qualified for FIBA AmeriCup 2022 thanks to an 71-63 upset against Argentina and despite a defeat to Venezuela in the previous game. Further down the rankings saw big jumps for teams that played in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers. Kazakhstan claimed two decisive victories over Sri Lanka and one over Palestine to move up five spots to No. 74 while Bahrain moved up six spots to No. 101 after falling to No. 58 Lebanon but then winning by three points over Iraq. Palestine, who followed up a heavy defeat to Kazakhstan with a resounding victory over Sri Lanka, moved up four places to No. 89. The Sri Lankans slipped 11 spots, the most among all ranked teams, to 134 after three defeats in the window Big jumps in Africa saw Democratic Republic of Congo rise three places to No. 81; and while Mozambique came up short of qualifying for the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 after falling to Angola and Senegal, they did beat Kenya and ended up climbing six spots to No. 90. Kenya, despite their defeat to Mozambique, had the better window by upsetting 11-time winners Angola to clinch a spot in the FIBA AfroBasket for the first time in 28 years. The Morans, in becoming the first country to be coached to AfroBasket qualification by a female coach in Liz Mills, also rose three spots in the rankings to No. 112. Guinea, who defeated Equatorial Guinea in their last games to clinch a spot in the FIBA AfroBasket, moved up five spots to No. 122. Due to the suspension of FIBA competitions, an adjustment was made to the algorithm for the rankings in December by extending the expiration date of past results by eight months in order to ensure that results from two Olympic Games are at all times included in the calculations which weigh data from the past eight years. Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. View this email in your browser Share Tweet Forward Share Basketball Africa League to tip off historic inaugural season in May MARCH 29, 2021 DAKAR (Senegal) - The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced that the league's historic inaugural season will tip off Sunday, May 16 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with 12 teams from across Africa competing in the new professional league.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Regional Office Africa has organized on the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside of North America. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30. The BAL has created robust health and safety protocols for the 12 teams and personnel traveling to Rwanda, based on guidance from the World Health Organization and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, with advice from public health officials and medical experts. "We are thrilled that the inaugural Basketball Africa League season will take place at the world-class Kigali Arena," said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. "Through the BAL, we will provide a platform for elite players from across the continent to showcase their talent and inspire fans of all ages, use basketball as an economic growth engine across Africa, and shine a light on Africa’s vibrant sporting culture." "We are extremely happy to finally launch the highly anticipated first season of the BAL," said FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave. "FIBA and the NBA have been working closely together to develop protocols to address the health and safety of all players, coaches and officials. The experience of hosting the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers in Rwanda late last year will contribute to a safe and successful inaugural BAL season." The league today also announced an adjusted competition format for the inaugural season, which will feature a total of 26 games at the Kigali Arena. The competition will tip off with an 18-game group phase with the 12 teams divided into three groups of four. During the group phase, each team will face the three other teams in its group once. The top eight teams from the group phase will qualify for the playoffs, which will be single elimination in all three rounds. Below are the 12 club teams from 12 African countries that will compete in the inaugural BAL season: COUNTRY TEAM Algeria GSP (Groupement Sportif des Pétroliers) ** Angola Petro de Luanda (Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda) * Cameroon FAP (Forces Armées et Police Basketball) ** Egypt Zamalek* Madagascar GNBC (Gendarmerie Nationale Basketball Club)** Mali AS Police (Association Sportive de la Police Nationale) ** Morocco AS Salé (Association Sportive de Salé) * Mozambique Ferroviàrio de Maputo** Nigeria Rivers Hoopers BC (Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club)* Rwanda Patriots BC (Patriots Basketball Club)** Senegal AS Douanes (Association Sportive des Douanes) * Tunisia US Monastir (Union Sportive Monastirienne)* *Champion from national league that earned representation in the inaugural BAL season **Secured participation in the inaugural BAL season through a BAL qualifying tournament Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season.  The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019. The BAL groups and additional details about the league will be announced at a later date.