
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994                    TAG: 9406180344 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C5    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY ED MILLER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940618                                 LENGTH: NORFOLK

NEW, COOL HOME FOR PRO-AM BASKETBALL\

{LEAD} The Hampton Roads Pro-Am Basketball League begins its third season today at a new location, with a new women's division, and - given its strong showing at the national Pro-Am tournament in Miami recently - some new-found respect, as well.

After two steamy summers at Norfolk Catholic, the league is moving across town to Lake Taylor, which not only offers an NBA-sized floor, but something infinitely more important to anyone who sweated through a game at Catholic:

{REST} Air conditioning.

At the cramped Catholic gym, the score often wasn't the only thing that reached triple digits. The temperature did, too. Or, at least, it felt that way.

``We hope that with the AC and the better location, we'll have a lot of people come out,'' said Pro-Am executive director Wayne Hoffler. ``And with the floor being 50 feet by 94 feet, it should be a better game.''

It's hard to imagine the league being any more wide open than it was last year, when scores frequently drifted into the 150s and 160s as college, ex-college and the occasional NBA player tore up and down the court.

This year's league will again feature eight teams, and NBA players like J.R. Reid, Bryant Stith and Kenny Gattison - all of whom have played in the past - are expected to make at least occasional appearances.

The bulk of the roster spots will again be filled by local college players from Old Dominion, Norfolk State and William and Mary, as well as ex-college stars.

New this year is a six-team women's division, which will start play June 25.

Hoffler says he's also hoping to invite some Pro-Am teams from other cities for a tournament, possibly in August.

One team that's definitely interested in coming is a squad from the New York, which has been clamoring for a rematch since it fell to a group of Hampton Roads All-Stars at the national tournament in Miami several weeks ago.

Pro-Am national executive director Steven Board, who ran the tournament, said he stuck the Hampton Roads team in against the powerful New York team, figuring he'd give them a ``nice initiation'' into Pro-Am Basketball.

``They turned around and shocked me,'' Board said. ``They were taken very lightly, but not anymore. They put themselves on the map.''

The season tips off today at 5 p.m. Admission is free.

by CNB