OVO Bounce Second Annual Basketball Tournament

The second annual OVO Bounce basketball tournament began Monday evening at the Kerr Hall Gym on Ryerson University’s campus in downtown Toronto. Canadian Basketball stars a-plenty were on hand to play and to watch the opening games of the 8-team tournament. A tournament sponsored by Toronto’s own, Drake – appropriately named for his label, October’s Very Own – in conjunction with the Nike AAU, CIA Bounce. The event coincides with Drake’s annual OVO Fest, which is held on Sunday, August 3rd this year.

As the expansion of talent in Canadian basketball continues to increase, so does the showcase of said talent throughout the country. With NBA Summer League having concluded last week, and the current Canadian national basketball team playing overseas in the Euro tour, those in Toronto looking to take some basketball action found the OVO Bounce tournament run by founder of CIA Bounce, Tony McIntyre.

Fans filed into the two-floor Kerr Hall gym beginning at 6:30 p.m., with the first game beginning at 6:45. Just moments later, the 2014 number one overall draft pick, Andrew Wiggins, arrived to take in the action. Although Wiggins would not play, his appearance alone garnered buzz and attention from those in attendance.

Andrew Wiggins

A star-studded CIA Bounce team featured 2013’s number one pick in the NBA draft, Toronto’s own Anthony Bennett along with Syracuse alum and Phoenix Suns point guard, Tyler Ennis and the towering 7 foot-5 New Mexico State alum, Sim Bhullar.

Tyler Ennis, Anthony Bennett, and Sim Bhullar take on Team Brampton

Despite the best efforts of Brampton’s Tyler Ennis, who was easily the best player on the floor, draining 3-pointer after 3-pointer and completing on-point passes – their team would lose a close game to ironically, the team from Brampton.

The gym didn’t fill to capacity until 8 p.m. when Toronto Raptors’ own Amir Johnson arrived sporting a newly shaved head to defend Team OVO’s championship won from the inaugural event last year. A huge part due to his tweet last night to over 122,000 of his followers, informing them of the event.

With fans standing all around the sidelines and completely filling the bleachers, Amir Johnson alongside Detroit Pistons’ point guard Brandon Jennings – the two Californians and former Texas Longhorn and Torontonian, Myck Kabongo led Team OVO to an easy victory over their opposition by double digits in the final of four games played on Day 1 of the tournament.

Amir Johnson and Brandon Jennings on Team OVO

The five-day tournament continues tomorrow, and runs from Monday, July 28th through to Friday, August 1st with games beginning at 6:45 p.m. at the Kerr Hall Gym at Ryerson University and is free to attend.