Want a shot of winning a basketball tournament? Now is your chance to fulfill the dream. The Veterans Network is sponsoring a basketball tournament Friday in the gymnasium from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Physiology major Fernando Salazar Jr., 31, president of the Veterans Network, is organizing the event. He is the brainchild behind it. “I want this event to get everyone involved, so they can see what the Veterans Network is all about.” Salazar says.
Registration starts as early as 10 a.m. and tip off for the tournament will be at 11 a.m. Teams need to have 3-4 players and do not have to be students at Citrus. You can recruit anyone you would like.
Entry fee is $20 per team. All proceeds from the event go to support the Veterans Club on future events. Athletes from both the women’s and men’s basketball team will be there for support and play. Veterans from the club will also be there to play.
22-year old physical therapy major Jeffery Roth, member of the Veterans club, will be there to, “Support the Veterans Club,” Roth said. “I also love playing [basketball].”
According to Salazar, there will be tacos and shaved ice for sale. A portion of the proceeds from the food will also benefit the Veterans Club. The Red Bull girls will also be there to distribute free energy drinks to make the event even crazier.
There will be a halftime show to have a break from the tournament; there will be two individual shooting competitions. One will be a half-court shot, and the other will be a game of around the world. Only players in the tournament can participate, and will have a chance at winning additional individual prizes.
Frankie DeGuzman, assistant coach on the women’s basketball team, and is a former Veteran. DeGuzman is in charge of the prizes, and said “I love basketball, and I am a veteran so helping out is a no brainer.”
The prizes for teams in the main competition are: first-place will receive a cash prize as well as trophies. The cash prize amount depends on the turnout of people at the event. The second-place team will receive free 30-minute massage sessions to take away all those aches and pains. Third place gets free lunch and gift certificates.
Sign ups are at HH 756 at the Veterans Center, located north of the gym, until March 22.
