PANAMA CITY (Panama) — The Panamanian Basketball Federation (FEPABA, for its Spanish acronym) and the Panama Basketball Children’s Foundation joined efforts to celebrate this year’s second-largest Mini Basketball festival of the Americas from June 3 to 7. Girls and boys established unbreakable friendship bonds through basketball at the Copa Amistad (Friendship Cup), where at least 400 children of both sexes and from different nationalities participated: Panamanians, Jewish Panamanians, Hondurans, Mexicans, Ecuadorians, Colombians, Costa Ricans and Guatemalans of the U10, U11, U12, and U13 categories, for a total of 94 Mini encounters.

“A child can always teach things to an adult. First, to smile without a particular reason; second, to always stay occupied; and third, to demand what you wish with all your strength. The 2019 Copa Amistad in Panama has been a complete success. All participants are champions. We witnessed exciting games, joyful children, families dedicated to a week exclusively dedicated to Mini Basketball. I remembered those vacations when I was a child and enjoyed playing Mini. This is a tradition we're rescuing. I want to give thanks to the children for their dedication and love for basketball; they are our hope. To the coaches and academies for their responsibility; to the parents for supporting with no qualms the dreams of their children; and to the whole organizing committee, friends, volunteers, and international delegations. We have shown that together we can strengthen Mini Basketball,” said Jair Peralta, President of the Panamanian Basketball Federation (FEPABA) to FIBA.basketball.

With four international and four national finals, champions from different nations celebrated friendship and healthy competition in Panama City. Mexico and the local team played the championship in the U10 category with a victory for Mexico. Meanwhile, Panama featured Kalani Bermúdez and Martin Zerr, who were coached by Jesé Hidalgo, and who were undefeated in the qualifying round — but fell against Mexico. Guatemala had the most exciting victory when winning the U11 female category against an untiring Panama who, like this U10 boys had been undefeated in the regular round led by Vivian Grenald and Natalia Solís. They concluded the Cup in second place.

The U11 Panama boys, led by Jhonny Murillo, Richard Molina, and Lucas La Torre, were able to defeat Mexico. As for the U12, Costa Rica showed a game plan and tactical execution that kept the other team in a complicated position for three periods. It was only at the end of the game when Saúl Guevera and Héctor Saavedra led Panama to be crowned champions of the U12 masculine category of Copa Amistad.

The Panama Metro zone was on top of the rest of the national finals of Copa Amistad for the U10, U12, and U13 in both categories. Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador and the Jewish Panamanian community all had very significant participation in their respective categories in what was a marvelous Mini Basketball week.

“As hosts of the Copa Amistad, with this second international edition we faced a format that was extensive, larger, with a better structure, and that counted on the collaboration of all Mini Basketball friends in preparing the logistics during what were months of difficult work leading up to excellent results. Sports instill an array of positive values to children, as well as pride for their country, and we want our children to feel important surrounded by a strengthened development of institutions that believe in Panama’s Mini Basketball, beginning with FEPABA. It's time for our Mini to start to shine from within, from our house, Panama,” added Julio Bermúdez, Coordinator of the Panama Basketball Children's Foundation.

Each festival has its unique qualities. This year, Panama presented the technology to the service of youth sports, active social media to bring families and countries closer, from home, to live events. The official web page of Copa Amistad was designed to highlight the event’s memories, the profiles of participant children, games and calendars, a large gallery of everything that happened since the countries arrived, official team photos, celebrations and joyful moments in the sport; as well as tourism trips, families filling up facilities, and the diversity that Mini Basketball can include in the content of their digital platform.

“Aside from the games, there were cultural exchange events, drawing competitions, and a tour around the facilities of the Panama Canal for all participants and their families, both local and foreign,” said Julio Bermúdez.

Kalani Amílcar Bermúdez and Pau Prieto Ferró are two boys of the age of nine and they met while playing basketball. Each Copa Amistad is for them and for many others an opportunity to get together and share experiences through the sport.

“I feel very proud of representing Panama. Defending our colors in the Copa Amistad was a very beautiful experience of a great level and I liked the visit of all nations. I invite all children to come back and join us in the 2020 edition. We hope to see you there!” said Kalani, who has participated in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the cup.

This year, Pau, who lives in Lleida, a city in the region of Catalonia, in Spain, and who has Panamanian roots, said: “Last year I participated at Copa Amistad to represent Panama. I liked that a lot because I learned new things and made many new friends. Panama City is beautiful, I’d never been there. I made new friends, like Kalani. I hope that next year I can participate in the Cup and I’ll keep making an effort for that.”

The Festival gave medals to all participants (around 500) to honor and acknowledge each child’s effort and to teach them that discipline, consistency, and perseverance will always have positive results. Now, they will go back home to their countries to invite their friends and more children to play Mini Basketball because they have witnessed that dreams do come true.

FIBA