A message to all you basketball fanatics out there – the Big V All Star match is set to shine this Sunday at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, and your presence is essential!

After a two year absence, the Big V All Star match is ready to kick back into gear.

Big V, in collaboration with the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), is pleased to announce two All Star games (a men’s and a women’s) will be played as part of the McDonald’s National Junior Classic* on Sunday June 8, at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC).

Big V Chairman Daryl Neal said he was excited to see the return of the All Star experience, which will see a North-West side compete against a South-West side (teams listed below).

“It will be a great spectacle to see the best players in State Championship take on one another,” Neal said. “And what better forum than in front of the up-and-coming star of the future.”

The women’s match will tip-off from 5pm with the men’s to follow at 7.30pm. Both matches will be played on MSAC’s show-court.

VJBL Competitions Manager Rebekah Lacy said it was a great addition to the Classic.  “It is great to be able to combine the best juniors in the nation with the state’s best elite players,” Lacy said. “And it is a great way for the up-and-coming youngsters to see what level they could one day play at.”

In addition to the All Star games, a 10 minutes McDonald’s Mini-Series game will be played in the half-time interval of each game, giving up to 20 youngsters from eight to 10 years of age to play basketball on the big stage.

Stay tuned to the Big V website (www.bigv.com.au) for updates on the All Star games.

North / West Women Coach Warren Taylor (Hume City) Sharin Milner (Hume City) Katrina Hibbert (Hume City) Tenille Cann (Hume City) Lauren Bennett (Hume City) Carmen Weaver (Diamond Valley) Jayde Tyrrell (Diamond Valley) Megan McIntyre (Diamond Valley) Jess Kelly (Eltham) Hannah Pickford (Eltham) Danielle Fidge (Diamond Valley)	South / East Coach Sarah Nobbs (Melbourne) Julie Brookhouse (Waverley) Brooke McKay (Waverley) Alex Lough (Waverley) Candice Rogers (Bulleen) Lisa Pardon (Bulleen) Audrey Muse (Geelong) Maddy Taylor (Geelong) Hope Terdich (Melbourne) Bec Campagli (Melbourne) Meagan Green (Bulleen)
North / West Men Coach Steve Smith Daryl Corletto (Melbourne) Daniel Johnson (Melbourne Matt O'Hea (Melbourne) Ivan Platenik (Waverley) James Orr (Waverley) Jermaine Maybank (Hume City) Michael Petridis (Hume City) Damon Lowery (Eltham) Luke Egan (Eltham) Carl Arts (special inclusion Southern Peninsula)	South / East Men Coach Ken Harrington (Ringwood) Adrian Sturt (Melbourne) Glen Barlow (Latrobe City) Sam Belt (Ringwood) Vashon Weaver (Latrobe City) Luke McMillan (Ringwood) Luke O'Hea (Ringwood) Rhys Carter (Latrobe City) Matthew Snowball (Ringwood) Jeff Reid (Latrobe City) Willie Weimer (Ringwood)

*The McDonald’s National Junior Classic is a three day invitational tournament held over the Queen’s Birthday Weekend. It is regarded as the premier club tournament in Australia, attracting teams from all over the country. The annual tournament is entering its 33rd year and is managed by the Victorian Junior Basketball League (VJBL), supported by Basketball Victoria and endorsed by Basketball Australia.

Due to the size of the event, two venues are used. In 2009 the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre will host the junior tournament (U12’s and U14’s) and the Dandenong Basketball Stadium will house the seniors. (U16’s and 18’s)

This invitational event sees 128 teams contesting the covered 8 championships held across the following competitions:

• Under 12 Boys and Girls
• Under 14 Boys and Girls
• Under 16 Men and Women
• Under 18 Men and Women

In each of the eight sections, 16 teams compete for the title which see in excess of 1100 players participating. The sections are made up with eight teams representing metropolitan and country Victoria and the remaining spots reserved from teams from New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory and  Tasmania.

Large crowds are attracted to witness the best junior basketballers in Australia compete. In 2008 estimates say in excess of 8,000 spectators were in attendance at both venues across the three days.