Press Release: NUEYS-Seattle holds 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and B.B.Q.

On Saturday May 26th 2007, the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students of Seattle (NUEYS-Seattle) held its first ever 3-on-3 basketball tournament and B.B.Q. at Powell Barnett Park. Eritrean youth and their friends came as far as Toronto and Portland to take part in the day of recreation and solidarity.

The event, taking place during the 16th Eritrean Independence Day weekend, was marked by youthful celebratory sentiment and fans on the sidelines chanting "happy sweet sixteen Eritrea!" The scale and magnitude of the tournament was by-far NUEYS-Seattle's largest to date, signifying the growth of the young organization since January of last year. Seventy-two young men and women participated in eighteen different teams, taking the court in friendly competition.

With B.B.Q. on the grills throughout the day players took breaks from their games eating and drinking with the fans cheering on other teams. Perhaps the highlight of the day was during the break before the championship game, NUEYS members brought out a birthday cake with the message 'Happy Sweet Sixteen Eritrea' to be cut in honor of those who lost their lives in the struggle for Eritrean independence.  
After hours of intense play, team "Uptown", representing northern Seattle, walked away with the championship. During the awards ceremony, winners Alex Hatzey, Robel, and brothers Ben and Thomas Bahta, invited their younger brothers and other kids from the crowd to hold up their trophies which signified the friendly nature and positive influence of the event.   

Ben Bahta expressed his overall satisfaction with the tournament. When asked what he thought of the event he replied, "NUEYS did a great job organizing. This is the first time we've ever had something like this".

Many seemed to agree as they expressed their gratitude and also asked about membership and upcoming events. Likewise, members themselves felt the tournament was a success and a sign of the great things to come. As original founding-member Mekonnen Gebremariam put it, "NUEYS-Seattle can only go up from here". With the organization budding into its second year it seems for now that only time will tell.