On the eve of the new winter basketball season, the game appears to be growing in popularity among the Island's youngsters.

Bermuda Basketball Association's Winter League opens tonight with three fixtures, amid claims the game is catching up with the more traditional sports.

Mannie Faria, the BBA's public relations officer, said: "I think football will always be the number one sport, but I can definitely see basketball gaining a lot of ground on it.

"Basketball is definitely a growing sport and you see more and more of the younger generation playing it these days.'' Youngsters' desire to play the game had been fired by television coverage from the USA of the stars of the National Basketball Association, Faria added.

"They know of players like Michael Jordan and kids say they support the Magic, the Bulls or the Lakers, so I guess they must see the coverage to adopt those teams.'' Faria said the fourth BBA High School Invitational Tournament, to start next month, was attracting more interest than ever before.

The league, which will run until the end of March, consists of the four-team Premier Division, the 13-team Adult Recreation Division and the Women's Division, running for its second year, with six teams.

Twisters, who can boast several players with experience of American college basketball, will start as favourites to retain their Premier title.

Bermuda College, which will stage the opening batch of three fixtures tonight, and Saltus, will be the venues for games.

Myer's Fliers take on Sea Venture Steelers at 6.30 p.m. in the Women's League, before Bermuda College play Rafur Charges in the Adult Recreation Division at 7.45 p.m. In the night's Premier clash, champions Twisters meet Bermuda Pest Control at 9.00 p.m.