THE 2015 Friendship Basketball League tipped off on the Show Court at the Tamworth Sports Dome on Saturday morning.
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The eight-week basketball competition features seven teams, six from Tamworth and one from Inverell.
Most of the players are Filipinos working in the local abattoirs.
Pastor Inrico Orbe was one of the organisers of the competition to give the workers a bit of relaxation.
A multicultural competition, it is has around 100 players to start with and will have a championship round at the end of the eight competition games.
Tamworth Basketball Association president Michaelene Halpin was on hand for Saturday’s opening and delivered the oath of sportsmanship for all the players to recite.
She was impressed by their enthusiasm although the lack of height might be a worry.
She said some 800 Filipinos live and work in Tamworth.
“We’re hoping we might recruit some players into our Tamworth Basketball Association competitions as well,” she said.
“They do like their basketball and Pastor Inrico has done a great job organising it all for them.
“Part of the oath contained the players enjoying themselves and upholding principles of fair play and standards of sportsmanship – We agree to play in the spirit of unity, community and help my mates.”
Pastor Inrico said six teams started Saturday (one having a first-day bye).
“We have about 13 to 15 players in each team,” he said.
“We play for eight weeks and have the championship round after that final round.”
He said playing sport was a good source of fun and health for the various players ranging from teenagers up.