Basketball is on the rise in the UAE and the first annual MPAC Elite International Tournament was indicative of the potential for growth of the sport in the region.

The week-long event showcased four of the top US high school pro­grammes participating in Simeon, Huntington Prep, Utah Reign [comprised of Lone Peak players] and Montverde Academy. MPAC also entered its own team, made up of players from the MENA region.

From its opening game on June 14 at Al Shabab Club to the cham­pionship at GEMS World Academy, the tournament was a rousing suc­cess not only for MPAC but also for the teams involved.

“The feedback we received, not only from the American teams, but also from the fans, the general basketball players and athletes in the UAE has been overwhelming,” said Ahmad Elzahdan, director of operations at MPAC.

“We were shocked at the [number of ] comments, calls, emails and questions we were get­ting from high-ranking high school basketball players in the States; coaches and schools and teams have been contacting us wanting to participate and they want to know what it takes to be invited next year.

“We’ve been getting calls from teams locally here in the Middle East and even as far as the Philip­pines that want to participate in this event.”

And while MPAC has built quite a foundation with their inaugural effort, there’s room to expand even more.

“We place pretty high expecta­tions on anything that we do,” said Elzahdan. “We’re already planning for next year’s tournament and we definitely want to add a few more teams from the US and we want to give it more of an international fla­vour.”

And if MPAC can continue to bring talent from abroad, the UAE has the potential to add basketball as a staple-sport in its own right.

“It’s blossomed, it’s actually boomed,” said Elzahdan. “Just look at the NBA players that have stopped by in the UAE, from Hakeem Olajuwon to Robert Hor­ry and most recently Kobe Bry­ant. Dubai is a must-stop not just for sports, but for entertainment and we’ve been blessed to be the pioneers of basketball here in the GCC.”