FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 415-554-6131

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HUNDREDS OF YOUNG ATHLETES TAKE PART IN MAYOR’S THIRD ANNUAL 3-ON-3 YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND BATTLE OF THE CITY DEPARTMENTS
Players from across San Francisco come together to compete

San Francisco, CA– Hundreds of basketball players took part in the Mayor’s third annual 3-on-3 Youth Hoops Tournament and Battle of the City Departments at the University of San Francisco.

Athletes from the ages of 8 to 17 competed in the tournament, which took place over two weekends and featured players from across San Francisco. The goal of the competition was to encourage youths to develop friendships on and off the court while learning more about the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship.

“I know first-hand how opportunities like this one are important to keeping our young people active and engaged in their communities,” said Mayor London Breed. “As a former middle school basketball player myself, I am encouraged and excited to see this event continue to grow.”

The first round of the competition took place on July 14th and included more than 1,250 girls and boys squaring off in 15 different neighborhood gyms managed by the Recreation and Park Department, a 25% increase in participation from last year.

“We are thrilled to support the Mayor’s 3-on-3 tournament,” said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. “This friendly competition unites youth from across the city through shared experiences and shared achievement in San Francisco’s neighborhood playgrounds and recreation centers. It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to develop their skills and their friendships. And, who knows, maybe the next Steph Curry will make his or her mark in this tournament on one of our very own basketball courts.”

More than 350 participants from the opening weekend’s triumphant squads moved on to the final round of competition at USF.

The participants vied for competition prizes, enjoyed food and drinks, and took part in a resource fair hosted by various city agencies and project sponsors. The Golden State Warriors supported the event, lending their hype man, Franco Finn, for the third year in a row to encourage the aspiring basketball players.

“The Warriors are committed to taking an active interest in our community and are proud to sponsor the Mayor’s 3-on-3 tournament this year to help encourage youth to be active while learning the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship,” said Joanne Pasternack, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of the Warriors Community Foundation. “It was great to see so many youth engaged and competing in a fun and active way.”

“The Mayor’s 3-on-3 Tournament, along with the after school and summer programs funded by our department, highlight our City’s deep commitment to keep children and youth safe, learning, and healthy. Our youth develop key skills such as teamwork, collaboration and leadership from the classrooms to basketball courts,” said Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families Director Maria Su. “Working collaboratively with other City agencies, USF, the Warriors, and the community to host events like the Mayor’s 3-on-3 Tournament exemplifies our shared mission to make San Francisco a great place to grow up.”    

Following the youth tournament, City departments and agencies competed against each other, including the San Francisco Police Department, San Francisco Fire Department, Public Utilities Commission, Public Works, Recreation & Park, Board of Supervisors, Sheriff’s Department, Public Defender's Office, District Attorney's Office, Human Services Agency, as well as representatives from the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors.

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