Tura, Aug 18: Don Bosco Basketball Academy emerged as the dominant force at the seventh Buccieri Memorial Basketball Tournament 2026, winning three of the four titles on offer as the week-long competition concluded at the Don Bosco Higher Secondary School campus in Tura on Monday.
Organised by Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Tura, the annual tournament is held in memory of Rev. Fr. Anthony Buccieri, SDB, a missionary and educator who dedicated several decades to youth development in the Garo Hills.
This year’s tournament was held from August 11 to 17 and featured 20 teams from across the Garo Hills region and neighbouring areas. The teams competed in four divisions: Under-14 Boys, Under-14 Girls, Above-14 Boys and Above-14 Girls.
Sherwood School, Tura, began the final day on a winning note, defeating the Don Bosco Basketball Academy girls 14-5 to claim the Under-14 Girls’ title.
Don Bosco Basketball Academy responded emphatically in the remaining three finals.
The academy secured the Under-14 Boys’ championship after defeating Bosco Mount, Rongkhon 41-29. They then edged Don Bosco School, Mendal 20-17 in a closely contested Above-14 Girls’ final before completing their successful campaign with a 44-36 victory over Don Bosco School, Kokrajhar in the Above-14 Boys’ final.
The tournament was played under the motto “Play with Passion, Compete with Integrity, Grow in Friendship”, with the organisers aiming to use basketball as a platform to develop sporting talent, discipline and camaraderie among young players.
The closing ceremony was attended by Tura Municipal Board CEO Jude Rangku T. Sangma as the chief guest, along with Rev. Fr. Januarius Sangma, Rev. Fr. Threnius N. Sangma, SDB, Principal of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Tura, and other dignitaries.
The dignitaries presented trophies and certificates to the winners and runners-up at the conclusion of the tournament.
Beyond the results on court, the organisers said the annual tournament continues to uphold Fr. Buccieri’s legacy by bringing young players together and promoting leadership, unity, friendship and sportsmanship among participants from the Garo Hills and neighbouring areas.
