The 32nd Annual IndoHoops Canada National Tournament concluded just over a week ago as the three day event ended with some tremendous, close battles that will surely make a lasting impact for the tournament as it looks to grow and encompass even more talent.
Sim Sahi, a former Vancouver College player, is one of the main organizers for the tournament and he was extremely proud of the outcome while also looking ahead to the future. “There was a great energy from the players and fans all weekend long. There were a lot of fans and the players even chose to stay and watch the other games because the atmosphere was just so positive and inviting which was easy with such a great facility. The games themselves were incredibly entertaining and I can’t wait to see the progression of this tournament.”
With a strong collection of Indo Canadian basketball players including both former and present players, the tournament looks to continue its growth. Sukhjot Bains is one of the premier talents this year, and Darpan spotlighted him last summer as he went to play for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay making him the first player born in India to play division 1 college basketball. He has come back to BC this year, where he played high school ball at Tamanawis, to play for the University of Fraser Valley this upcoming season. Another star talent is Manroop Clair, a stand out here in BC. Manroop played in Seattle and Hawaii for the last several years and has decided to come back to BC as well to play for the UBC Thunderbirds.
The community teams feature some great legends of the past when it comes to basketball in BC with some Indo Canadian big ballers who helped pave the way for the next generations of basketball players within the culture.
Surinder Grewal is the founder of the BC Prep Academy which operates out of the gym where the tournament is held. “We are very proud of how we made this tournament to bring people together and showcase the talents of our community. We want to expose the youth of our community to other Indo Canadians who are playing across North America to show them that there are great players everywhere” said the former University of Calgary all-star.
The Community division had tough, gritty basketball from the very first game to the final. The Diamonds by Dal team beat the Eagles 56-54 in the community final with a solid scoring effort spread across the whole team. The Diamonds squad included the tournament MVP in Hardeep Braich and the Defensive MVP in Maninder Gill. The teams of the tournament are predominantly from Surrey but this division featured an all-Abbotsford final which will surely attract more players from the region for years to come. According to Sahi, “the growth of the game in Abbotsford has been eye opening and we are very interested in what could come of this. You look at a school like the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) and the majority of their team now is South Asian which will surely pave a path to be followed by the next generations.”
The elite final featured some amazing talents. The elite brother combos of Manroop And Swaroop Clair for the Surrey Rapid Motors battled against Jash and Ajay Kahlon of the Cali Gillson Trucking team as the two sides battled in an entertaining affair. Cali had won every game of the tournament leading up to the final while Surrey squeezes out a win against the Tormentors team led by Sukhjot Bains. The game was a surprise to many at the half as Surrey was up 31-19 on Cali. Then in the 2nd half Cali returned to form to grab a lead before the team’s started duking it out back and forth captivating all the fans. It wasn’t until a last-minute bucket gave Rapid Motors the lead and Cali couldn’t hit the buzzer beater, so Surrey Rapid Motors won the thrilling Elite Championship 56-54. Manroop Clair was the elite tournament MVP while Ajay Kahlon took home the Defensive MVP honors.
It is just a fun atmosphere where young athletes in their prime face off, former stars duke it out like old times, and even the interesting clashes of younger and older teams which are quite the spectacles.
The players themselves relish the competition and many of them compete against their friends or past teammates for those who have already finished university. Raju Korotana, of the Sleepwell team in the community division, was a standout player for the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves in the early 2000s. He is impressed by the level of talent displayed these days by the next generation of Indo Canadian players. He mentioned how “there were barely any Indian players when I played. It was a really small community of Indian players. Now I have seen the pure growth and development of our youth in the sport and I am really looking forward to seeing where we can go.”
This tournament was an absolute treat for any basketball fans, especially those interested in seeing the talent and progression displayed by South Asian athletes. For all of you who didn’t get a chance to check it out this year, you must go next year. Especially basketball fans, but even if you aren’t a big sports fan, it is certainly a positive experience to witness the talents shown by members of our culture and community. This is a cant miss event and we cant wait for next year!
