Splash Brothers' Shamoii A. Dagou, seen here battling past two West Gunners players in the 2016 Hon Fraser Save the Seed League, said Splash Brothers are eyeing a repeat as champions. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Aubrey S. Daniel returns as a main player for Splash Brothers in the 2017 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Action in the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League gets underway on Saturday August 19, 2017 following an opening ceremony at 6:00 PM at the Save the Seed Energy Centre Basketball Court in Duff’s Bottom. Photo: VINO/File

The League tips off on Saturday August 19, 2017 with an opening ceremony at 6:00 PM at the Save the Seed Energy Centre Basketball Court after which Splash Brothers will take on Warrias in the main encounter of the evening’s double header. Warrias are playing the opening game in place of last year's finalists West Gunners who, surprisingly, will not play a part in this year's League.

Opening action will be between Young Starz and Beast Mode from 7:30 PM in the Junior Division.

‘We coming to win’

Splash Brothers have been allowed to keep their draft player and 2016 MVP Steve E. Parillon, and according to Dagou the line-up remains mostly the same as last year except for the addition of a “couple” new players.

“It is the same team, we coming to win. They say we getting gold rings this year and so it would be much much tougher,” Dagou, who may double up as a player/coach this year, told Virgin Islands News Online.

Other top players in the Splash Brothers camp include Ashfield Frett and Aubrey S. Daniel.

“We held a couple of practices already, we had a good feedback from players, and we will be there next week to defend our championship. Just tell everybody Splash Brothers coming back for a repeat,” Dagou declared.

Team increase in Junior Division

Meanwhile, according to a press release from the Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League Committee on August 13, 2017, the Junior Division of the League has now increased by 1, which means there are 7 teams in the junior division, 5 teams in the 13-16 age category, and 2 in the 9-12 age group.

It also advised that at the August 19, 2017 opening ceremony, all teams, both junior and senior, must have at least five players for the roll call of teams and should wear uniform tops. “Teams who fail to make the roll call will be fined and cannot play any game in the League until the fine is paid.”

The 2017 Hon Julian Fraser Save the Seed League is sponsored by National Bank of the Virgin Islands, Harneys, BVI Olympic Committee, Dr Vincent G. Scatliffe, Save the Seed Energy Centre, Honourable Julian Fraser RA and Bishop John I. Cline.

Note schedule until the end of August 2017  

Saturday August 19, 2017

6:00 PM- Opening Ceremony  

7:30 PM Young Starz vs Beast Mode (Junior Division)

9:00 PM Splash Brothers vs Warrias

Sunday August 20, 2017

5:00 PM Jr. Bayside Blazers vs High Speed (Junior Division)

6:30 PM Young Empire vs DA 3RD  

8:00 PM Bayside Blazers vs Knights

Friday August 25, 2017

6:30 PM Pure Playaz vs We Dem Boyz

8:00 PM Momentum vs Nex

Saturday August 26, 2017

5:00 PM Swaggas vs Lights Out (Junior Division)

6:30 PM East Cavaliers vs Jr. Bayside Blazers (Junior Division)

8:00 PM Warrias vs Young Empire

9:30 PM Splash Brothers vs Bayside Blazers

Sunday August 27, 2017

5:00 PM High Speed vs Jr. Starz (Junior Division)

6:30 PM DA 3rd vs We Dem Boyz

8:00 PM Nex vs Pure Playaz