STREETS OF BRAAMFONTEIN TO SHUT DOWN FOR BASKETBALL

One-on-one basketball to take over the streets as Red Bull King of the Rock competition returns

Braamfontein is usually the haunt of the über trendy Joburg crowd. On 13 August it gets a taste of basketball culture as De Beer Street is shut down to play host to thirty-two ballers as they go one-on-one, man vs. man for top honours at the Red Bull King of the Rock South Africa Final.

Basketball has been deeply entrenched in hip hop culture for decades so it seems fit that the event will also feature a performance by venerable rapper and self-proclaimed fan of ‘Braam’ Stilo Magolide, style commentary by Mkay Fresh and be emceed by South Africa’s voice of the game, Jerome ‘Slim’ Du Plooy.

The battle will follow an exciting round-robin format that will keep the crowd involved and entertained. The top eight ballers will then be drawn into a single-elimination tournament bracket. This section of the tournament gets really, real: You lose, you go home… In the end, winner takes all and gets to represent South Africa at the Red Bull King of the Rock World Finals in Serbia later this year.

“I think the fact that we’re are going as far as shutting down an iconic street in Braamfontein tells all ballers and enthusiasts just how epic this Final is going to be!” says sportive director KP Ndlovu. “The one-on-one game is known for being fast-paced, hard and physical and being able to bring it to the streets of Braam, where there is such a strong cultural vibe, is going to be something special.”

Kevin Romenoh, last year’s South African Champion, spoke humbly of the experience of attending the World Finals in 2015: “It was such a great opportunity to compete in Turkey last year. This year’s winner will have their work cut out for them taking on the players in Serbia in September.”

Through three rigorous qualifiers taking place in and around Johannesburg over a 3-week period in July / August, players will be selected to compete in the finals at 10am on the 13th of August – just a stone’s throw away from the Neighbourgoods Market.

For more information head to: www.redbull.co.za/kingoftherock.