LAU Jr. NBA Closes With a Promise to Advance Youth Basketball Nationally
This year’s championship witnessed an inaugural girls’ division and a record number of participants.
The fifth edition of the LAU Jr. NBA League closed on May 12, following a successful season that featured the addition of a girls’ division, which expanded the cohort to 600 participants—the league’s biggest yet.
Over the course of the league, 110 games were played, all under the supervision of qualified referees from the Lebanese Basketball Federation, coaches from clubs and schools and LAU student-and-staff volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the tournament.
The final matches were held at the Michel Sleiman Sports Village in Byblos, and the all-day event featured skills competitions and closed with a celebration of the participants’ achievements.
In the boys’ league, the Riyadi Club, representing the Cleveland Cavaliers, won the championship after beating the Vintage Club, who represented the Houston Rockets 87-83. Meanwhile, the Nadim Souaid Academy team, who were representing the New Orleans Pelicans, secured third place over the Hoops Club, who were representing the Philadelphia 76ers.
Meanwhile, the inaugural girls’ league culminated in a win for the Antonine Sisters School, representing the Minnesota Timberwolves, as they defeated the team from College St. Joseph – Aintoura, representing the Los Angeles Lakers, with a final score of 99-75. The team from Broumana High School, representing the Indiana Pacers, followed in third place, defeating International College, who represented the Golden State Warriors.
“The LAU Jr. NBA League continues to be a beacon for youth basketball development in Lebanon,” asserted LAU Director of Athletics on the Byblos campus Joe Moujaes. “With the launch of the girls’ division, the program has taken a major step toward promoting inclusivity and giving a platform for aspiring female athletes,” he added, promising a bright future for the league while nurturing future Lebanese basketball stars.
The top performers in the LAU Jr. NBA league were recognized for their performance, as follows:
- Boys’ category: Charbel Herrera, Tarek Kfoury, Anthony Bou Zeid, Jeffrey Khairallah and Jad Dbouk.
- Girls’ category: Gloria Khalil, Thean Mansour, Tina Saide, Lynn Kanso and Lucia Bou Atmeh.
The winners of the challenges were announced as follows:
- Skills Challenge: Rowen Khalil and Loulwa Abou Samra
- Three-Point Contest: Fabio Caspar and Thea Mansour
