GEMS Wellington International School Dubai Outshines in the First Gems Basketball Cup

GEMS Sports Series held its first ever GEMS Basketball Cup with participation of over 450 youth players from 18 schools across the UAE. While the girls competed in U12 category, the boys competed in the U10, U12, U14 and U16 categories, with a strong intention to win the first edition of the competition.

GEMS Wellington International School Dubai (WIS) continued their march to yet another final, as the boys from WIS were crowned U16 champions. Dubai American Academy came 2nd, followed by The Millennium School Dubai who succeeded in making it again in the top 3.

Head Coach, Greg Campbell from GEMS Wellington International School Dubai said: “Basketball continues to flourish at WIS and winning in the four age categories at the inaugural GEMS Basketball Cup, Girls and Boys U/12, 14 & 16, is testament to the hard work and dedication the players have put in during the year. We’ve had some great support from our Principal over the years that allows us to provide our students with every opportunity to train and play to the best of their ability.”

“The GEMS Sports Series provides our students with the opportunity to compete in such well organised tournaments in a great venue. This compliments what we have been doing during the year and I am confident this is only going to do wonders for WIS Basketball in the coming years and the sport of Basketball within GEMS Schools”; Greg further added.

In the U10 age category, one could clearly see the involvement of the kids in basketball. Scoring the most number of points, the boys from GEMS Royal Dubai School were crowned champions, followed by Jumeirah Primary School, Dubai and Cambridge International School Dubai respectively.

The players in the U12 category were in no way less enthusiastic or motivated than their older peers. Both boys and girl’s squads from GEMS Wellington International School (WIS) were clinical in their approach in each game and displayed exemplary teamwork. WIS beat Cambridge International School (CIS) Dubai, to clinch the trophy in the boys’ category, while WIS girls emphatically beat GEMS Metropole School (MTS) to be crowned the first U12 girls’ champions.

James Bowring, Managing Director, ESM said: “The GEMS Basketball Cup is such a strong addition to the GEMS Sports Series because of the great number of youth teams participating locally and players who will one day be the future of their clubs and national teams. Our objective from this tournament is to provide a competitive platform for promising youth players and we look forward to using this tournament as a window for them to take their game to a higher level. The number of schools that participated in our first edition of the tournament asserts and confirms everyone’s view of the tournament and we’d like to thank everyone involved.”

‘Most Valuable Player’ at the basketball tournament were also awarded to:

•           Ara Malkasinian (U10) – Royal Dubai School

•           Mayil Jalilov (U12) -  Wellington International School

•           Alisha Sherma (U12) -  Wellington International School

•           John Hattar (U14) - Wellington International School

•           Samir Singh (U16) - Wellington International School