From left: Founders of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League, Mr John I. Cline and Hon Julian Fraser RA, and Digicel CEO Robert C. Mayo-Smith. Photo: Provided

Digicel has committed to sponsoring the Championship Rings for the 2016 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League. Photo: VINO/Internet Source

West Gunners are the defending champions of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League. Photo: Provided

2015 Finalists West Gunners and Splash Brothers will do battle on the opening night of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League on August 20, 2016. Photo: VINO/File

The exciting and competitive league tips off on Saturday August 20, 2016 at Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duffs Bottom, on the main island of Tortola.

The League, in a press released today, August 9, 2016, announced that telecommunications giant Digicel (BVI) will sponsor the Rings for the 2016 Championship Team as part of its three year commitment which started in 2014.

Digicel (BVI) New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert C. Mayo-Smith said Digicel was again “delighted to be associated with the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League for yet another year and looks forward to a successful season.” 

He noted that Digicel remains committed to giving back to the community as “our record has overwhelmingly demonstrated this since coming to the Virgin Islands' market some 7 plus years ago.”

Digicel a good corporate citizen

The press release also stated that both Directors and Founders of the League, Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) and Leader of the Opposition as well as Bishop John I. Cline, who is also the founder of the Save the Seed Energy Centre, praised Digicel for their three year commitment to the League and the many other support they have provided over the years in helping to make the League a success.

Both Directors of the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed National Basketball League thanked Digicel for their commitment in helping to see the vision of the League grow and succeed.

In a comment to this news site, Hon Fraser said he was pleased to be associated with the League’s Platinum Sponsor Digicel “who has again seen the tremendous benefit this League is to the youths of our community as they develop through the sport of basketball, for their decision to yet again commit their resources for a third straight year to provide the championship team with rings for the 2016 League.”

Hon Fraser added that Digicel has been instrumental in making the League the premier League it has become in just three years, and that the League appreciates and applauds them for their good corporate citizenry.

The League is now in its fourth year and this year is expected to be even more thrilling and competitive.

Opening Day schedule

The evening of August 20, 2016 will get going with an opening ceremony at 6:00 P.M. at the Save the Seed Energy Centre where trophies will be awarded to both junior and senior teams for outstanding play in various categories and the Championship Rings will be awarded to the 2015 Champions West Gunners.

There are some 19 teams this year with 13 senior and 6 junior teams. The League will release the Division (Eastern/ Western) and game schedule in the coming days.

There will be two games on tip off night after the opening ceremony, one junior and one senior. The 2015 Championship Team West Gunners will do battle with runners up Splash Brothers in the senior Division and the Junior 2015 Championship Team Swaggas will see if they can pick up a first win over the Junior Avengers, the 2015 Junior Division runners up, in their first game of the season.

The 2016 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed Basketball League is sponsored by, James Todman Construction, Digicel (BVI), Nagico Insurance, National Bank of the VI, Sol (BVI), Tropical Rental, Botanic Service Station, Delta Petroleum (Caribbean) Ltd., First Caribbean International Bank, Decastro Marking, T-Shirt Genius,  International Motors, and Walkers.