As ANBT nears, early talk of tourney so far is team confirmations, costs for participants, lack of accommodation

The roster of teams is close to being firmed up for the 2023 edition of the All Native Basketball Tournament set to tip off on February 11th at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Complex in Prince Rupert.

An update from ANBT organizers in late December provided a glimpse of which teams may be taking to the courts of the Russel Gamble Gymnasium and Arena come the second week of February.

Ladies: 

Vancouver, Similkameen, Hazelton, Kitamaat, Rain, Hesquiaht, Greenville, New Aiyansh, Kitkatla, Gitwinksihlkw, Kincolith, Lax Kw,alaams, Massett

From qualifying:  Bella Coola, Hartley Bay, Bella Bella. 

Seniors: 

Kitkatla, Metlakatla Ak, Skidegate, Ahousaht, Massett, Similkameen, Hazelton, Lax Kw,alaams, Lytton, Kincolith, Bella Bella. 

From  qualifying: Rupert Grizzlies, Metlakatla BC, New Aiyansh, Burnaby, Hartley Bay, Kitamaat and Bella Coola. 

Intermediate:  

Vancouver, Bella Bella, Prince Rupert, Bella Coola, Lax Kw,alaams, Kitkatla, Kitamaat, Greenville.

From qualifying: New Aiyansh, Skidegate, Kincolith, Hartley Bay, Massett and Hazelton. 

Masters: 

New Aiyansh, Gitwinksihlkw, Kincolith, Massett, Prince Rupert, Kitkatla, Lax Kwa'laams. 

From qualifying: Bella Bella, Hartley Bay, Skidegate, Kitamaat, Terrace, Hazelton, Hydaburg and Bella Coola.

Tournament Organizers are awaiting confirmation from participating teams prior to releasing the details of the Tournament Schedule for February.

Among some of the conversation from the Social Media post of late December were a few concerns over the growing cost of the tournament, from travel expenses to the rent required for the civic facilities in Prince Rupert. 

That has become a topic which has some of those that follow the tournament asking if the City has been approached towards a break, or a donation of the facilities during tournament week.

Also a growing concern is the current housing and accommodation crunch in the city, which has had fewer hotel and motel spaces available in recent years of the tournament, a theme that often in the past  has been followed by a suggestion from some for organizers to consider rotating the tournament among other Northwest communities which have more accommodation spaces.

Such is the crunch for one team, that they have taken out a call for help through the ANBT Social media page and others in Prince Rupert,  with the team from Ahousat seeking out some space for their players.

That current challenges for housing and accommodation in the community will be extra hard to take on this year, that with a large list of teams anticipated to confirm for this years event. 

Such has been the interest in the 2023 event,  that back in November ANBT organizers noted that they have added one day to tournament week.

 The ANBT office is also about to make move heading up to the 300 block of Third Avenue West, the office space yet to open, so follow the ANBT Facebook page for notes on their relocation, as well as other themes related to the Tournament for 2023.

As we get closer to Tournament time in February, you can follow the latest themes for ANBT 2023 through our archive page.