The prestigious one-on-one street basketball tournament, the King of the Rock which is sponsored by Red Bull, will be staged on our shores with the official qualifiers being played at Tigne Point, in Sliema, on May 24.

The top 16 players will then battle it out in a knock-out format during the final stages of the competition that will be held in Republic Street, Valletta, on May 31.

The winner of the tournament will fly to Taiwan later this year to represent Malta at the King of the Rock World Finals.

Interested players are urged to visit Bognor Sports Pitch at the Bugibba Promenade on May 17, where a one-on-one practice session will be organised and registrations accepted.

Anyone over the age of 16 can participate and there is no registration fee.

Now in its fifth year, the King of the Rock is a global sporting fixture executed in truly iconic and unique surroundings.

On September 6, Taiwan will welcome the world’s toughest basketball players of the year, as the World Finals move from ‘The Yard’ in Alcatraz to Samasana Island.

Initially, the tournament was open solely for top players from the West Coast of the United States. In 2013, however, qualifiers for the event were held in 20 US cities, as well as in 23 other countries, to find the top 64 players worldwide.

The Malta stage of the Red Bull King of the Rock is being organised in conjunction with the Malta Basketball Association, 808Havana and Urban Jungle.

One may obtain more details by phoning 9987-9987 or visit www.redbullkingoftherock.com.