This season the Bay Area Matrix will be defending their Nor-Cal championship in the ABA while playing their home games out of the DVC gym. With a 30 game season, 15 at home, teams from all over Northern California will descend upon DVC looking to knock off the top ranked Matrix.
Coach Jim Beresford says that the goal for the team is to “develop the team more, and move forward after winning NorCal’s last year.”
In 2010, the Bay Area Matrix were formed and started playing in the American Basketball Association (ABA).
The professional basketball league was founded in 1967, but folded after merging with the NBA in 1976. In 1999 the league sprang back up and now has 80 teams.
In their inaugural season, the Matrix won the Northern California division championship and was ranked in the top 25 in the country all season.
The nation started to notice and awarded the trio of coaches (Gordon & James Beresford, Ben Darling) the coach of the year award. Jamar Holloway and Will Walker received first team all conference honors, while Alex Okafor was selected defensive player of the year.
According to the team’s website, Coach Gordon Beresford expects “Nothing less than another championship this year.”
Along with being ranked number one in the NorCal division, the Matrix are ranked seventh in the pre season rankings for the entire ABA.
On the ABA’s website, CEO Joe Newman said of the rankings, “We have some strong teams returning as well as some very good new teams. With the season opening…there should be a lot of movement.”
The Matrix should win the NorCal division and make big waves throughout the ABA. Coach Jim Beresford says, “The key to success will be our tenacious defense and teamwork on both sides of the ball.”
Several players on the team have played at DVC and most come from the Bay Area but have played all over the country. According to the website, “The Matrix are excited to bring a professional basketball team to the wonderful people in this area.”
The first home game will be on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the DVC gym.
The team is also looking for interns in departments such as marketing, ticket sales, and many more. They are also looking for game day crew to work in stats, hospitality, film, concessions, and score keepers.
For more information on the internships or the team go to www. Bayareamatrixbasketball.com.
