Written By Amir Ibragimov, Grade 10 and Eva Aijan Grant, Grade 12
The CABC Tournament took place from February 20-22 in Astana, hosted by Haileybury Astana and QSI Astana. It featured 9 schools from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. Over three days of intense competition, teams battled for the championship, delivering exciting games and unforgettable moments.
In the U15 boys division, 6 teams competed in a group stage. Unfortunately, our team lost all 5 games, placing them in a 5th place game against QSI Astana. It was a close game, but QSI Astana pulled ahead and secured the win, leaving our team in the last place. Nonetheless, the U15 boys kept their heads high despite their losses, showing that competitions are more than just about winning.
The U15 Girls category had 4 group stage games, sadly losing all of them. However, in the end they did get a win, securing 8th place. However, the girls showcased great skills and dedication, showing that basketball is about growth and perseverance.
Our U19 boys competed against 8 teams, playing 4 games in the group stage. Despite the setback of injuries, the team played hard-fought matches, but were unable to win. The boys fought hard on the last day winning both placement games against Kazakhstan International School and Haileybury Astana to finish 7th out of 9 teams.
The U19 girls faced 6 teams, winning 3 of their 6 group-stage games, advancing to the 3rd place game against Almaty International School. After an extremely close game they unfortunately ended in 4th place. Both the varsity girls and boys team lost players to injuries, but still persevered, showcasing their resilience.
Although BIS did not secure any places, the teams showcased a true display of passion, hard-work, teamwork and sportsmanship. Despite the losses, the teams look forward to next year’s competition, where they will achieve greater results.