Inaugurate Inter-Neighborhood Basketball Tournament Gran Santo Domingo 2026
Santo Domingo, D. N. – Vice President Raquel Peña and Minister of Sports Kelvin Cruz led the inauguration of the Inter-Neighborhood Basketball Tournament Gran Santo Domingo 2026, under-20 category, this Tuesday. The event took place at the Tony Barreiro Sports Center of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
This tournament brings together more than 150 teams from different sectors of the National District and Santo Domingo province. It is consolidated as a crucial space for the development of basketball, community integration, and the identification of new talents.
Cruz highlighted the support of President Luis Abinader, which has enabled the renovation of more than 30 sports courts in Greater Santo Domingo, ensuring appropriate spaces for competition.
Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sports
During the ceremony, uniforms and equipment were given to the participating teams. The winning team will receive a prize of one million pesos, while the winners of each zone will obtain RD$250 thousand.
The director of the National Police, Andrés Modesto Cruz Cruz, confirmed that the tournament will have a security deployment in all venues to maintain order during the matches.
In the National District, 48 teams organized into groups will participate. The competition system will define the champions of six zones, who will advance to elimination rounds until reaching the final. Authorities have warned that any team that commits disciplinary offenses may continue in the tournament, but will lose the right to economic prizes.
The event gains relevance by being held within the framework of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, serving as a basis for the preparation of future national teams.
Dedicated to Federico Lalane José
The 2026 edition is dedicated to Federico Lalane José, in recognition of his outstanding career in sports and public administration. During the ceremony, a special tribute was paid to him for his contributions to basketball, including his management in the Dominican Basketball Federation and his participation in international organizations.
Tribute and Show
In the inaugural act, a minute of silence was held in memory of Danna Sofía Uribe, daughter of the president of Fedombal, Rafael Uribe.
The opening day included an artistic presentation by El Lápiz Conciente and Chimbala, who entertained the hundreds of young people present.
The ceremony was attended by Garibaldi Bautista, Luis Mejía Oviedo, as well as municipal and legislative authorities.
