Gear up for all-stars

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An all-star game has been planned on the final week of the Mahindra NBA Challenge Basketball League at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kochi on Friday.

A weekend of basketball extravaganza can be expected, as after the all-star game, the semi-finals and finals of the League will be held on the following days.

The organisers said the conclusion of this year’s challenge will have various NBA-style entertainment, musicals and on-court basketball contests also drawing the involvement of fans.

This will be the second time Kerala is going to host an all-star game that involves a large number of participants from the six-week long League.

The State association informed that the method of choosing teams for all-star games varies, but the selection is based entirely on performance and popularity.

All-star games are played as regular games, although a lot of emphasis is given on showcasing one’s skills.

The coaches try to get everyone into the game (while constrained by normal substitution rules), with the players not exerting themselves as they would in game of a regular season (to minimise the risk of injury).

Meanwhile, the schedule for Saturday’s semi-finals has been announced and matches will be played in under-13, 16, 19 and senior categories.

Schedule of semifinals:Under 13

Girls: Little Flower HS Koratty vs Sports Division Kannur; Christ Vidyanikethan Irinjalakuda vs Presentation School Kozhikode

Boys: Christ Vidyanikethan Irinjalakuda vs Little Flower HS Koratty; Don Bosco HS Irinjalakuda vs Sacred Heart HS Thevara

Under-16

Girls: Little Flower HS Koratty vs Providence HS Kozhikode; Mount Carmel Kottayam vs Sports Hostel Kollam

Boys: St Josephs Thiruvananthapuram vs Bosco HS Irinjalakuda; Silver Hill HS Kozhikode vs St Ephremes HS Mannanam

Under-19

Girls: VK Krishnamenon College Kannur vs SAI Thalasserry; St Xaviers College Aluva vs Providence College Kozhikode

Boys: Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram vs Viswajyothi Engineering College Vazhakulam; St Brechmens College Changancherry vs Youngsters Club, Kurianoor

Senior men: KSEB vs Customs & Central Excise Kochi; Kerala Police vs Mar Baselios Engineering College Thiruvananthapuram