Inaugurate Inter-Neighborhood Basketball Tournament Gran Santo Domingo 2026
Vice President Raquel Peña and the Minister of Sports, Kelvin Cruz, led the inauguration of the Gran Santo Domingo 2026 Inter-Neighborhood Basketball Tournament, sub-20 category. The event took place at the Tony Barreiro Sports Center of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
This tournament, which brings together more than 150 teams from different sectors of the National District and Santo Domingo province, is consolidated as a fundamental pillar for the development of basketball, community integration, and the projection of young talents.
President Luis Abinader’s support has enabled the rehabilitation of more than 30 sports courts in Greater Santo Domingo, ensuring adequate spaces for competition.
Kelvin Cruz, Minister of Sports
During the opening ceremony, uniforms and equipment were given to the participating teams. The champion 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, assured that a security device will be implemented in all venues to guarantee order during the matches.
In the National District, 48 teams organized into groups will compete. A progressive system will be used to define the champions of six zones, who will advance to elimination rounds until reaching the grand final. Authorities have warned that any team that incurs disciplinary offenses may continue in the tournament, but will lose the right to economic prizes.
This event takes on significant importance as it is held in the context of the Central American and Caribbean Games Santo Domingo 2026, serving as a platform for the preparation of future national teams.
Dedicated to Federico Lalane José
The 2026 edition of the tournament 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 valuable contributions to basketball, including his management of the Dominican Basketball Federation and his participation in international organizations.
Tribute and Show
In the inaugural act, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Danna Sofía Uribe, daughter of the president of Fedombal, Rafael Uribe.
The day included an artistic segment with the participation of El Lápiz Conciente and Chimbala, who delighted the hundreds of young people present.
The event was attended by Garibaldi Bautista, Luis Mejía Oviedo, as well as municipal and legislative authorities.
