Family Day Tournament

Just some of the intense action at the Filipino Community of Moose Jaw Basketball Tournament.

The annual tournament - now in its eighth year - runs every Family Day and is a way for the local Filipino community in Moose Jaw to get together and enjoy the most popular sport in the Philippines which is basketball, said Victor Morales coordinator and organizer of the two day tournament.

Although this is the eighth annual event it is just the second year the event has teams just from Moose Jaw competing.

There are seven teams from the men’s league, two teams of 12 and under and two junior teams competing.

Although a friendly tournament the competition is intense with this year seeing the first time ever requiring double overtime periods to decide the eventual winner.

The tournament picks up tomorrow at 8 am at Cornerstone Christian School (43 Iroquois Street East) and runs until noon. Admission to tomorrow’s event is free of charge and everyone is welcome to attend, Morales said.

The Family Day tournament wraps up with an awards night banquet Sunday evening at Church of Our Lady located at 566 Vaughn Street.

Asked about the double overtime, which fired up the large crowd, Morales said it was good for the fans. He said he told the winning team, which he also coached, a basic philosophy about playing basketball.

“I told them, you are part of a team everybody plays as a team. When it comes to crunch time you have to step it up for those not as skilled as you are.”