GEMS Sports Series held its first ever GEMS Basketball Cup with participation of over 450 youth gamers from 18 institutions across the UAE. While the girls completed in U12 group, the children contended in the U10, U12, U14 and U16 categories, with a solid objective to win the first edition of the competitors.

GEMS Wellington International School Dubai (WIS) continued their march to yet one more last, as the boys from WIS were crowned U16 champs. Dubai American Academy came Second, adhered to by The Centuries School Dubai that prospered in making it again in the top 3.

Head Coach, Greg Campbell from GEMS Wellington International School Dubai said: Basketball continues to flourish at WIS and winning in the four age categories at the inaugural GEMS Basketball Cup, Girls and Boys U/12, 14 & 16, is testament to the hard work and dedication the players have put in during the year. Weve had some great support from our Principal over the years that allows us to provide our students with every opportunity to train and play to the best of their ability.

" The GEMS Sports Series provides our students with the possibility to contend in such well ordered events in an excellent location. This compliments what we have been doing throughout the year and I am positive this is only mosting likely to do marvels for WIS Basketball in the coming years and the sport of Basketball within GEMS Schools"; Greg further included.

In the U10 age category, one might clearly see the involvement of the children in basketball. Rating one of the most number of points, the kids from GEMS Royal Dubai School were crowned champions, followed by Jumeirah Primary School, Dubai and Cambridge International School Dubai respectively.

The players in the U12 group remained in no other way much less enthusiastic or determined than their older peers. Both kids and woman's squads from GEMS Wellington International School (WIS) were clinical in their method in each video game and showed excellent teamwork. WIS defeated Cambridge International School (CIS) Dubai, to clinch the prize in the children' category, while WIS girls absolutely beat GEMS Metropole School (MTS) to be crowned the very first U12 girls' champions.

James Bowring, Managing Director, ESM said: "The GEMS Basketball Cup is such a strong enhancement to the GEMS Sports Collection because of the variety of youth groups taking part locally and gamers who will certainly one day be the future of their clubs and national teams. Our purpose from this event is to provide a competitive platform for appealing youth gamers and we eagerly anticipate using this event as a window for them to take their video game to a higher level. The number of institutions that participated in our initial edition of the event insists and validates everyone's view of the competition and we want to thank everyone involved.

'Most Valuable Player at the basketball tournament were also awarded to:

Ara Malkasinian (U10) Royal Dubai School

Mayil Jalilov (U12) - Wellington International School

Alisha Sherma (U12) - Wellington International School

John Hattar (U14) - Wellington International School

Samir Singh (U16) - Wellington International School