New era in Nepali basketball

KATHAMDU, Feb 12: A basketball tournament under new system is currently being held in Kathmandu in home and away format similar to the tournaments held in the United States of America (US) at the college level.



The tournament held in US for college students is called National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The main target of these tournaments is to bring talented and educated players under National Basketball Association (NBA) and make them professional players.[break]



US returnee Arniko Singh has been running the games under home and away format. The tournament is currently being held in the championship format and will be upgraded to Nepal Collegiate Athletic League next year. He further added that the main purpose of organizing basketball league in Nepal is to encourage academic and athletic excellence among students.



“In Nepal, players form a team and move from one college to another seeking scholarships in order to participate in tournaments. But in order to participate in the league the students will have to fulfill minimum criteria regarding their education," he said.



“When I approached the colleges to discuss my concept, most of the college principles said that players bunk classes and never appear for the examination. They were positive about the new concept because it would help in curbing the problem," he added.



Players often threaten the colleges saying that they will quit the team and move to another college.



After this format is implemented, the students who do not qualify for the league will not be able to participate from another college.



The league will also help increase the competence of players as they will be playing more games. It will help produce good players for the national team.



Bikash Shahi, sports in-charge of Prime College, said that the initiation of the league is a good sign. "The players will have to pay attention to their studies as well if they are to play the league games," he said.



Narendra Thapa, senior-vice president of NeBA said that though it is not an authorized league, the association is providing technical support. “This format of basketball will help produce new college players,” he said.



Currently eight teams are participating in the tournament which is divided into two groups. Each team will play five home matches and five away matches and the total number of matches will be 43 in this season, including two semifinals and a final. The winner of this season will receive Rs 50, 000.

Related story

Enriching the standard of Nepali basketball