Entertainers, media personalities and Virgin Islands senators displayed their basketball skills Friday night during the annual Sun Stroke All V.I. Hoop Classic in the Ronald Charles Gymnasium at St. Croix Central High School.
The 15th annual Sun Stroke All V.I. Hoop Classic celebrity basketball game allowed team Duncan and team Sun Stroke to dominate and showcase their skills.
Sun Stroke Promotions President Rashidi Clenance was the master of ceremonies a crowd pleaser as he entertained the audience and players throughout the game. He said NBA star Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs was one of the major sponsors of the event.
The Caribbean Education Initiative, Budget and Choice Wireless also were sponsors.
Some of the team members representing team Duncan were: international reggae artist Pressure Buss Pipe, Sen. Judi Buckley, calypso artist Daddy Jones, Sincere Deh Fam and TV2’s Temisha Liburd.
Team Sun Stroke includede Sen. Terrence “Positive” Nelson, Sen. Sammuel Sanes, Stephen “Kuff” Francis of ABC News Channel 8, musician A. J. Ventura, media personality Sheniqua Robinson, soca artist Rudy and international soca DJ Giselle The Wassi One.
During half time, Cher Will of the Caribbean Education Initiative funded by Tim Duncan, donated an automated external defibrillator — a medical device for restarting the heart, to the high school.
Clenance said the AED will help CHS meet full accreditation. He also said Sun Stroke Promotions will donate an AED to the St. Croix Educational Complex High School.
Throughout the breaks taken by the players, music videos of musicians born and raised on either St. Croix or St. Thomas and few from other Caribbean Islands were presented.
In the end, Team Duncan won a squeaker over Team Sun Stroke by a score of 54-53.
The most valuable player award went to Sean Tutein, who is part of KDM productions.
“Go hard or go home,” Tutein said.
He said if someone gives all they can, there is no other way but to excel.
The celebrity game ended with a performance by Wally Kyat, who sang two of his songs, “V. I. Sure Thing” and “From the V.I.” A premiere of soca artist Rudy’s new video also aired for the first time.
After the celebrity game ended, a few high school all stars took part in a three-point shootout and a skills challenge.
The annual Sun Stroke All V.I. Hoop Classic celebrity basketball game began in 1999 by Clenance and NBA star Duncan. The event helps high school students get exposure for recruiting.
Saturday’s schedule continues with the St. Thomas – St. Croix boys and girls high school all-star games. The girls’ series is even at seven games, and St. Croix boys lead their series nine games to five. The four-time Road March champions, Fusion, will play before and after the game.
The music will start at 6 p.m. and the girls’ game starts at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for children.
