FBA WITHDRAWS FROM PLANS FOR 2020 SEASON

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Orlando, FL) – Due to the elevation of Covid-19 cases within the state of Florida, the FBA Board of Governors have voted to withdraw plans to host a 2020 regular season.

The FBA adjusted to play the 2020 regular season in one location this year without fans, making the appropriate investments to offer commercial advertisements as a new, alternative revenue stream during games streamed to the public.

“Securing the venue dates for a full season has become too much of a challenge given the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in Florida,” said FBA Commissioner Greg Kite. “At this time, it’s more prudent to redirect our attention to 2021 while finding ways to do some sort of league smaller, more flexible league events this year.”

Although the regular season has been cancelled, FBA teams have been working hard to establish reasonable, executable plans to provide basketball opportunities that ensure players still get necessary, high quality game film. From exhibition games, youth camps and clinics and other alternative events, FBA fans can still expect a mix of diversified basketball activities in the state of Florida.

The FBA is a Florida-based professional basketball league providing a development, branding and exposure platform for athletes, referees and other individuals seeking to further their professional basketball career.

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FLORIDA FLIGHT WIN JUMP 10 FBA TEAM USA QUALIFIER

(Orlando, FL) – The Florida Flight of the Florida Basketball Association (FBA) was crowned Team USA after winning the Jump 10 FBA Team USA Selection Qualifying tournament this past Sunday.

The FBA, securing the host rights from Jump 10 and TBGT, Inc., opened the tournament up to any team willing to pay the modest $800 team fee to compete. Teams from as far as South Florida competed in the event.

The Flight came out victorious, going undefeated throughout the tournament. winning a free trip to Shanghai, China. They will  represent the USA in the Jump 10 World Hoops Challenge and play for a grand prize of $100,000 USD.

“We really wanted to start this year off right and make a statement,” said Flight Owner and Head Coach Mark King. “This is our tenth anniversary season, and our entire staff, players and even fans are all working very hard to make this year something special. This is a great start for us!”

The tournament used a slightly modified version of the Jump 10 World Hoops Challenge rules, including the two 12-minute game set competition format, a tie breaker game if needed, and a man-to-man defense requirement during competition. While an adjustment to regular FBA rules, the pace and format of the game gave fans an exciting, intense experience that some want to see more of.

“This was a very exciting format, and I’d like to see more games like this,” said Faye Winfrey. “Each minute was so critical. Each game is important. It really leaves you on the edge of your seat as a fan. It was very exciting.”

The final game featured the Flight against Team Win, a team comprised mostly of players with overseas experience local to the Central Florida region. It was the second meeting between the two in the tournament. The Flight defeated Team Win in round two, causing Team Win to battle through the Loser’s Bracket to get to the finals.

After splitting the first two games in the final round, the teams entered a 2 minute overtime set. Remaining tied after overtime, the two headed to the unique, Jump 10 rule of a sudden death, next basket wins scenario.

Per the double elimination format, a Flight loss would’ve required Team Win to defeat the Flight in a final 12 minute game to secure the championship win. That turned out to be unnecessary. Flight guard Elliott Glegg made the winning basket for the Flight, knocking down a free throw after Team Win was called for an illegal defense violation for trying to use zone defense coverage.

“It felt good getting the winning basket for my team, but it was for sure a collective effort,” said Glegg. “We felt like this was an opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves before heading to China in May for our international tour, so we really wanted to get this Jump 10 championship win.”

The win gives the Flight a free trip to Shanghai, China for the Jump 10 World Hoops Challenge, which will features 16 teams from 12 different countries. This will be the second visit to China for the Flight, as they are also scheduled for a 20 day exposure tour in May.

The FBA is a Florida-based professional basketball league providing a development, branding and exposure platform for athletes, referees and other individuals seeking to further their professional basketball career.

 

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL COMING TO POINCIANA

(Orlando, FL) – The Florida Basketball Association (FBA) has approved plans for an expansion team to call the community of Poinciana their official home for the upcoming 2018 season.

The team will call themselves the Poinciana Pride, and will play at the Mary Jane Arrington Gym and Aquatic Center, a newly developed 16,000 square foot venue that boasts a gym, fitness room, an outdoor fitness trail circling a pond, and a multi-use lawn for other sports and outdoor activities.

The team’s ownership group will include local Osceola County natives Dimas Cintron and Gregory St. Remy, both former professional basketball players with FBA’s Florida Flight (Orlando), one of the longest standing active minor league basketball teams in the country. Mark King, the Chief Executive Officer of the FBA and also owner of the Florida Flight (Orlando), will also assist with the launch.

FBA Commissioner Greg Kite, a 2-time NBA Champion that spent 5 seasons with the Orlando Magic, heralded Poinciana as the ideal market for minor league basketball.

 

“Minor league basketball has always done well in communities like Poinciana,” said Kite. “There’s a lot of pride in having a pro team to call your own. Economically, bringing in other professional teams will definitely provide an additional financial boost for the small businesses. From a community standpoint, giving the kids some local professional athletes to look up to will have such a positive impact on the future of the community. We anticipate this team being well received and supported by the entire community.”

Cintron, who is a resident of the Poinciana community, is excited to bring a pro team to his hometown.

“It is a pleasure to be a part of the leadership group that is bringing a professional basketball team to my home town of Poinciana,” said Cintron. “We are going to build something that this community can be proud of. We love the game of basketball here, and we look forward to using the platform of professional basketball to make a difference in the lives of others, especially the kids.”

The team will use a mixture of scouting, recruitment and local tryouts to assemble their inaugural roster. They will begin play in the 2018 FBA season. Opportunities to tryout for the team, an official logo and  website will be unveiled and announced in the coming weeks. For more information, email info@poincianapride.com, follow the team on Facebook (@PoincianaPride), or visit the FBA website at http://www.thefba.com.

The FBA is a Florida-based professional basketball league providing a development, branding and exposure platform for athletes, referees and other individuals seeking to further their professional basketball career.