One of the highlights of the opening ceremony will be the awarding of the Digicel (BVI) sponsored championship rings. They will be given to the new Championship team of 2014- Bayside Blazers. Photo: VINO/File

The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated 3rd Annual Hon Julian Fraser save the Seed National Basketball League which bounces off this Saturday August 15, 2015 at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff’s Bottom on the main island of Tortola. Photo; VINO/File

The 2015 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball season will bounce off on August 15, 2015 with an opening ceremony at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola. Bayside Blazers will be presented with their championship rings at that occasion. Photo: VINO

Ahead of the tournament, League Commissioner Rajah A. Smith has appealed to both players and patrons to be on time for the games and to be mindful that the tournament is being conducted at a private facility. Photo: Stephen A. McMaster

Bayside Blazers are the defending champions of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League. The league bounces of on August 15, 2015 at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom. Photo: VINO/File

Patrons to the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League are asked to be on time for the games. Photo: VINO/File

Hot action last year in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League between championship team Bayside Blazers and Da Third. Photo: VINO/File

Young Starz and Spartans clashing in the 2014 Hon Julian Fraser National Basketball League. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO/File

Bayside Blazers in a tough battle with Knights in the 2014 Hon Julian Fraser National Basketball League. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO/File

The 3rd Annual Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League was launched on July 28, 2015. From left: Head of Business Solutions at Digicel BVI, Mr Kevin Carragher; League Commissioner, Rajah A. Smith; Representative for the Third District, Hon Julian Fraser RA; Pastor Albert O. Wheatley; Managing Director of Nagico Insurances, Shan Mohamed; and Vice-President of the BVI Basketball Federation, Keith '88' Malone. Photo: Stephen A. McMaster

The League kicks off with an opening ceremony at 6:00 PM this Saturday. At the ceremony, there will be remarks by League founder Hon Julian Fraser RA, Leader of the Opposition and Representative for the Third District, along with Pastor Albert O. Wheatley who will be speaking on behalf of Bishop John I. Cline, another founder of the League.

One of the highlights of the opening ceremony will be the awarding of the Digicel (BVI) sponsored championship rings.  They will be given to the new Championship team of 2014- Bayside Blazers.

Two games on Opening Night

The opening night will also see two exciting senior games with the return of Z6ne 6 Ballers vs Spartans  at 8:00 PM and the championship team Bayside Blazers vs Knights at 9:30 PM.

Entrance fees are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children 11 years and under.

There will also be a roll call of teams where each team is required to be at the opening ceremony with a minimum of 5 players in uniform tops.

Be on time

Ahead of the tournament, both players and patrons are asked to be on time for the games and to be mindful that the tournament is being conducted at a private facility.

“We have to consider that it is a private facility and we have to be conscious of the time that we are there and that it is air conditioned and the expense of having the lights on. So we have to be cognizant of the fact that it is a private facility and we need to respect the time,” said League Commissioner Rajah A. Smith.

Smith especially implored with the participating teams to try to be on time.

“We are also asking the fans to come out and have a good time, the players to be disciplined and have fun while trying to win the game,” Mr Smith stated.

Meanwhile, the League will release the games schedule for the next month in the coming days.

The Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League ends on November 1, 2015. All games will be played at the Save the Seed Energy Centre Basketball Court in Duff’s Bottom.

The 2015 League is thus far sponsored by Digicel (BVI), Nagico Insurances, Nanny Cay Hotel and Marina, First Caribbean International Bank, BVI Olympic Committee, National Bank of the Virgin Islands and Caribbean Insurances Ltd.