By Odalis Sanchez
Punta Cana, LA Altagracia, RD.- The The 49th version of the La Altagracia Superior Basketball Tournament (TBS Higüey 2024) will begin this Sunday in a double match day, at the Leo Tavárez sports center in the city of Higüey, in La Altagracia.
In the Higüey contest, the oldest in the country and the only one that begins one year and ends in another (November 2024-January 2025), its six traditional teams that already have their leaders hired will participate and will choose to win the Gran Copa Grupo Puntacana .
The Savica clubs, champion of the last version and whose leader is Jonathan Matos, will compete; the runner-up Antonio Guzmán will be under the tutelage of José -Pancho- Fortuna; Center will go with coach Carlos Morbán; and Cambelén with the native Abraham Peña.
Also, the San José club will be under the command of José -Tyron- Cabrera; and San Francisco with Carlos Medina, who was the champion leader with the Savica club in the last tournament.
Hugo Carrasco is the technical director and reported that on the opening day the Centro clubs will play against Cambelén, at 7:00 p.m., and then, Savica against Antonio Guzmán.
He TBS Higüey 2024 has a special dedication to Mr. Eduardo Sanz Lovatón (Yayo), general director of Customs (DGA), and is organized by the Basketball Association of the Province of La Altagracia (ABAPA), an entity that has reached 50 years of foundation. .
Deputy Jorge Tavárez is the president of the ABAPA and is a member of the Organizing Committee headed by Senator Dr. Rafael B. Duluc (Cholitín), for the province of La Altagracia.
Gala Inaugural
In an emotional and fair recognition of five decades of work, effort, dedication and tradition, ABAPA and the Organizing Committee held a spectacular opening gala for the tournament that begins this Sunday, at the Hard Rock Café Punta Cana.
The gala brought together personalities from the sports, political and business fields, including the main sponsors of the tournament, sports leaders, businessmen and a delegation of legislators from the Sports Commission of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
The night was full of symbolism, emotions and a hopeful look towards the future of provincial basketball, explained the president of ABAPA, Jorge Tavárez, who in his welcoming words highlighted the importance of the contest and its legacy in the community:
«Today we lived a historic night. We celebrate 50 years of the founding of the ABAPA, the result of continuous effort and the result of the vision of the pioneer leaders who five decades ago organized the first Higüey Christmas Basketball Tournament,” said Tavárez.
He noted that “this tradition defines us as a community and unites our families, reaffirming that ‘There is no Christmas without basketball.’
The central speech was given by Senator Rafael Duluc (Cholitín), who highlighted the importance of basketball as a symbol of provincial and community identity.
He highlighted the leaders who preceded them and built a legacy in Higüey basketball such as Roberto Isambert, considered the “Father of Altagraciano Basketball.”
Today we continue this path, strengthening the culture and values of our province,” he said.
Recognitions
During the gala, a heartfelt posthumous tribute was paid to Roberto Isambert, who was recognized along with other former presidents of ABAPA such as Tummy Ortiz Vizcaíno, Manuel de León, José Justo Pepén, Raúl Corporán, Domingo Tavárez Aristy, Pedro Caraballo, Cristóbal Ramos, Andy Andrés de León Ávila, Juan Rafael Castillo Caraballo and Luis Moya.
