23 Teams Chase 16 Spots as Race for Business Hoops 2027 Begins

GREAT BAY--The race for a place in Business Hoops 2027 has officially begun, with 23 teams already expressing interest in competing for just 16 available spots when the corporate basketball tournament returns from January 27 through February 6, 2027.

Preparations for the tournament moved forward on August 20 with the first team meeting at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium, where representatives of approximately 15 companies and organizations gathered to receive information about the upcoming competition.

The 2027 tournament will mark the third edition of Business Hoops, which has grown into a competitive sporting event bringing together businesses, organizations and government agencies from across St. Maarten.

Interest in the upcoming tournament is already exceeding the available space. Although 23 teams have indicated their intention to participate, organizers will maintain the tournament's 16-team format over 11 days of competition.

The registration deadline is November 1, 2026, but with seven more interested teams than available positions, organizers are encouraging companies to secure their participation early.

WINAIR has already become the first team to officially register for Business Hoops 2027.

The upcoming tournament is also expected to feature several of the competition's established contenders, including defending champions Hilton Grand Vacations, 2026 runners-up Rainforest Adventures and 2025 champions Port St. Maarten.

Their expected return sets up several potential storylines heading into the third edition. Hilton Grand Vacations will have an opportunity to become the tournament's first back-to-back champion, while Port St. Maarten could become the first organization to capture two Business Hoops championships. Rainforest Adventures, meanwhile, will return after coming within one victory of the title in 2026.

New organizations are also looking to enter the tournament, including GCG, The Bankers and the St. Maarten Coastguard, adding further competition for the limited number of available places.

Since its introduction, Business Hoops has sought to create an environment where employees and organizations can compete outside of their traditional workplace settings while strengthening interaction, teamwork and corporate camaraderie through basketball.

The growing interest heading into 2027 reflects the tournament's development over its first two editions. Each year has brought new teams, rivalries and champions, while increasing the demand for participation.

Organizers confirmed during the August 20 meeting that the tournament rules and competition format will remain unchanged for 2027.

Teams were also reminded to carefully select their uniform colors to avoid conflicts with other participating organizations. A representative of Innovative Sports attended the meeting and presented participating teams with a package option covering uniforms, fan shirts and coach polos.

With registration underway and several former finalists preparing to return, organizers expect competition for both tournament places and the championship to intensify in the months leading up to opening night.

Business Hoops 2027 will tip off on January 27 and conclude on February 6, with only 16 of the 23 currently interested teams ultimately making it onto the court.

The registration deadline is November 1, 2026.

For additional information, interested organizations can contact tournament organizers Jose Helliger and Cleon Frederick at +1 (721) 580-5120 or +1 (721) 527-4274, or email businesshoopssxm@gmail.com. Business Hoops SXM can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

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