FLIPINO basketball players took time out from the court to make a civic trip to the Mayor of Dudley’s parlour.

Eight players, out of around 60 who are competing in the British Filipino Association Basketball tournament running at Dudley College’s Evolve campus, visited the Council House to present Dudley’s Mayor – Councillor Alan Finch - with a team jersey.

The players, who stopped off at Dudley Council on Monday March 17, all live in the Dudley, Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Walsall areas and the majority work in hospitals across the region.

They often use outdoor courts or indoor facilities at Dudley Leisure Centre and Ellowes Hall School in Gornal and they launched the four-team, 12-week basketball tournament in January.

Resty Garcia, chairman of Dudley Basketball Association, said: “In England the passion is football and for us basketball is the passion in the same way. We got together around ten years ago but this year added some competitive edge by setting up the tournament. We are delighted to have met the Mayor and thank him for his kind invite.”

Councillor Alan Finch, Mayor of Dudley, said: “I was honoured to welcome the British Filipino basketball team into the parlour to find out more about this fabulous tournament they have set up. It’s great to see different communities setting up initiatives like this on their own and I wish them all the best for the future.”

The basketball tournament runs until April 5.