Beach balls and Basketballs!
By Cindy Mercer
ESPN Regional Television in conjunction with the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau recently announced at the ESPNZone in New York the creation of the Cancun Governor’s Cup, a men’s college basketball tournament to be played at the new Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico. The new tournament which will launch in 2010-11 will feature an eight-team field with 12 games played through three days. Each team will compete in one game per day, advancing through a bracket-tournament format. The two teams that remain undefeated will face off in a championship match.
Admirably, the Cancun Governor’s Cup will support youth basketball initiatives in Mexico started by the Telmex Foundation and Mexican NBA star Eduardo Najera. The Telmex Najera Youth Basketball League is working to bring the game of basketball to the youth of Mexico. Since 2007, when the league was created, 60,000 kids from across Mexico have participated. The Cancun Governor’s Cup will annually offer tickets to the league for kids to experience collegiate basketball firsthand. “We are excited to host this event and showcase basketball in one of the world’s premier destinations,” said Clint Overby, senior director of events, ESPN Regional Television. “We want to be able to create an atmosphere in which we can highlight the area to players, coaches and fans as well as offer an opportunity to promote basketball to the youth of Mexico.”
In advance of the inaugural Cancun Governor’s Cup, Cancun will host a single-game event this January with Virginia Tech facing off against Seton Hall. Tickets for the special tipoff game on Wednesday, Jan. 2, are on sale now.
For ticket or travel information, visit: www.cancungovernorscup.com.
For information about The Telmex Najera Youth League, visit: www.ligatelmexnajera.org
I will keep you posted regarding event updates and interviews with players and organizers.