Some 8 teams have entered from Koror Hamlets, including Echung, Ngerchemai, Medalaii, Meyuns,Ngerbeched and Idid. The teams are mostly a mix of boys and girls with up to 12 players in each team.

The competition will be played at the National Gymnasium each afternoon from Monday to Friday starting at 3.30pm. In the following weeks games will also be played at selected hamlet courts to allow the local children and parents to see these games.

In yesterday’s opener, Ididers A played Echung South Coast and the South Coast team came away with the win by 46-29. The Ididers team are mostly new to basketball and it was sporting by the more experienced South Coast team to treat the opposition fairly for much of the game. For South Coast Peace Sumor scored 12 points and Derrick Faustino and Jerry Ngiraremiang got 8 each. For Ididers A, Alex Rudimch had a game high 14 points while Genesis Yano scored 10.

Parents and spectators were entertained by the effort of players and through their cheering and applause made these young basketball players feel like “champions”. In addition to introducing this age group to basketball, the goal of the league is to provide both fun and education to all players. The basketball rings are lowered to 8 feet to allow players to score more easily.

Part way through the league there will be a day’s break called a “Coaches Day in the Roster” when teams and their coaches will be taken through a series of basketball skills to help with their development.

Following the success of the 14 Years and Under league earlier this year, the 12 Years and Under league will surely bring forward players who might represent Palau in the future.

Following the completion of the round robin in May, four All Star teams will be selected to play in a Super League and from this Super League the National Junior Development Squad will be selected to participate in the National Junior Development Camp in June. This is part of the ongoing Talent Identification System of Basketball Palau.

Games shedule for next week:

                                                                                                HOME                                   GUEST

Monday 25^th April                            3.30pm                 Peched Reds      vs            Ididers A            

Tuesday 26^th April                            3.30pm                 Meyuns               vs            South Coast      

Wednesday 27^th April                     3.30pm                 Meda                    vs            NgerchemaiCentral    

Thursday 28^th April                           3.30pm                 Meyuns               vs            Peched Reds                    

Friday 29^th April                                 3.30pm                 Meda                   vs            Ididers A

 All games are at the Palau National Gymnasim. The Home team must wear white T-shirts and the Guest team dark colored shirts. All games will start on time.