`threepeat' of NBA titles the Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA) Summer League kicks off its season of slam-dunks, alley-oops and three-point bombs tomorrow with four matches scheduled at BAA Gym.

This year promises to be wide open in the men's competition with defending champions Dream Team not entered and perennial challengers Metro also unable to field a team.

Casey's Rebels -- formerly Somerset Rebels -- enter as one of the sides to watch coming off recent success in winning the winter league.

However, they have been weakened by the loss of a number of prominent starters, including top scorer Ijumo Hayward to Young Guns, and may find the going tough.

Guns are favoured to be among those when the final play-off roll is called as they also have the services of forward Timothy Trott, who has been plying his craft in college overseas and adds to their offensive firepower.

Down to nine from 13 teams, the league has one newcomer in Chief Rocka joining sophomore outfits People's Pharmacy and Brat Pack. Remaining squads are Titans, Bank of Bermuda, JG and Cablevision.

Despite the downturn -- in terms of numbers -- BBA public relations officer Lou Matthews is excited about the prospect of a new season, but equally disheartened by the fact that proper facilities are not being made available to the league by the Bermuda Government.

"The sport is really growing and a lot of young people are into it,'' said Matthews, also a player/coach with People's Pharmacy. "The talent is there ... we just need adequate facilities.

"Since the closure of the base -- US Annex -- our main summer venue has been taken away.

"We've approached Government about playing at various public school gyms as well as private schools like Mount Saint Agnes and Saltus and all have various reasons why they won't allow us in ... it's just sad.

"We have BAA, which is expensive and is really booked up, and that limits us to just playing on Sundays and Mondays at the moment.'' While not exactly a basketball mecca, Bermuda does have a burgeoning pool of talent, as seen by the numbers currently found flocking to venues such as The Centre, Pembroke Community Club, Point Mart and near the Port Royal Golf Course on any given day.

And it is not only the male persuasion driving the lane and crashing boards, but many females have taken to the bouncing ball, thus the league again features a women's league. There are three teams -- The Centre, Four Star Pizza and defending champions Meyer's Flyers.

"They'll (spectators) definitely see some good basketball,'' said former Clemson team member Carol Ann Wade, who represents The Centre. "A lot of girls here (in Bermuda) have that netball mentality, but our girls are well drilled with post moves and the like ... they don't just get on the court and run.

"Basketball is becoming more prominent now and what we're trying to do is get girls ready so that some may possibly get scholarships.

"Bermudians are naturally gifted athletes, we just need to bring that talent out.'' The women begin play next weekend with one match scheduled.

This week's schedule: Tomorrow Men: Titans v People's Pharmacy; Chief Rocka v Cablevision; Bank of Bermuda v Brat Pack; Casey's Rebels v JG.

Monday Men: Young Guns v Brat Pack.