The UAE Streetball Championship has come a long way in its 10-year history and organiser Ziad Al Sharabi is thrilled with how permanent a part of the UAE sporting calendar it has become.
Held at Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club on Friday and Saturday, it is the longest standing three-on-three basketball event in the region.
Al Sharabi believes the increasing popularity of the tournament is showcased by the new faces continually showing up each year.
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One recogniseable face appearing this year was former NBA player Donte Green who was part of the X Men team that won the most senior Men’s Elite event, beating Beast Squad in the final.
The ex-Sacramento Kings small forward also won the Slam Dunk Competition, with an impressive showing from 18-year-old Seraphine Mboa to finish second.
Living in the UAE and playing for Al Nasr, Green’s involvement is just another indication of the tournament’s growing reputation.
“The calibre of players competing is rising and it shows that this tournament is growing rapidly. We’re going from strength to strength,” said Al Sharabi, who has been involved in running the last six versions.
“It’s got so much bigger every year and it’s not just the same faces, we’re getting new players showing up.
"It’s an event people are starting to ask us about a few months before it is held, they’re seeking us out and they can’t wait for it.”
What started as a tournament played on one court has evolved into an eight-court competition, six of which are permanent.
“The club itself was established 10 years ago and the tournament has been around ever since,” said Al Sharabi.
“It’s a very well established tournament. It doesn’t make us any money but we want to keep it going because the roots of it and the club are intertwined.”
In the other six sections of this year’s tournament, Ballers beat Dubai Tribe in the Boys 14-15; the Boys 16-18 saw Next Level outlast No Sweat; the Men 6ft and under was won by Recipe, who overcame Young Kobe’s; Boomshakalala defeated Gamesterz in the Men’s Open; the Women’s Open saw Panthers beat Magic, while Panthers Elite were too much for Hoopers in the Women’s Elite final.