American Money Group, Inc., a local financial services company, recently announced their sponsorship of the 2006 Asia-Pacific Basketball Classic at Brigham Young University Hawaii, November 10-11.
"The Asia-Pacific Basketball Classic is at the heart of BYU-Hawaii's international mission," stated CEO Frank Peck. "Our mission at AMG is to educate and enrich the lives of others, a mission statement shared by the university. We feel that partnering with BYU-Hawaii will assist in accomplishing these goals."
In addition to the American Money Group, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Joe and Caryn Morton (co-founder of Xango) were key contributors to this event.
As the tournament slogan states, it is "A Tournament Like No Other!" This unique sporting event brings in several teams from around the world to participate in a friendly, relationship-building basketball competition.
"This tournament has been a tremendous success," said Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle at a welcoming banquet, where she commended BYU-Hawaii for "sponsoring a tournament of this caliber in our islands." She also praised the event for "furthering our goals of building academic and athletic relationships with our international neighbors from around the Pacific Rim."
This year's teams include the Civil Aviation University of China, Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines), and the New Caledonia Men's national team. In years past, the university has hosted teams from Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Guam, and Tahiti, as well as local rivals Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade University.
BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway said, "It makes sense for this university, the most internationally diverse campus in the United States (per capita), to host this great international contest. We seek to offer exciting international competition while maintaining the friendliness and sportsmanship that have become traditional during this tournament."
With such an international field of competition, the tournament atmosphere is not unlike the Olympics, an arena draped with participants' flags, games preceded with respective national anthems, and, the main event, a competition for national pride rather than personal prestige.
The international field of players draws an equally international crowd of fans, including the diverse student body found on the Laie campus and the cultural communities around the island.
With all its excitement and festivities, the tournament has one central purpose, to promote goodwill and facilitate relationships among the people and institutions throughout the Asia-Pacific region. It serves as an excellent medium for BYU-Hawaii to make significant connections with target area universities, allied ethnic organizations in Hawaii, and public affairs representatives throughout the said region.
"Since our first tournament in 2002, this event has been a huge success in bringing together international teams for exciting basketball and friendship," said the Seasiders' head coach and athletic director Ken Wagner. "We always look forward to this annual event."
All games will be held at the Cannon Activities Center. The game schedule is as follows:
Friday, November 10:
6:00 pm New Caledonia vs. China
8:00 pm Philippines vs. BYUH
Saturday, November 11:
6:00 pm New Caledonia vs. Philippines
8:00pm China vs. BYUH
In addition to the tournament, American Money Group invites all to attend a financial education seminar hosted by Students in Free Enterprise(SIFE) Tuesday, October 10 at 10:00 am in Aloha Center, Room 165 and a seminar for the community turtle Bay, October 12 at 6:30 pm in Kahuku Room II.