Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert and team mascot Hip-Hop helped to tip-off the seventh season of 76ers La Liga del Barrio from at the Thomas Edison High School Gymnasium (151 W. Luzerne St., Philadelphia) on Dec. 4. La Liga del Barrio is Philadelphia’s first Latino youth basketball league for boys and girls ages 6 to 17. Since its start, the league has grown to encompass 28 teams with 12 players per team.



“It’s great for the community. It gets kids off the streets and in to something productive,” La Liga Del Barrio Commissioner Ray Alvarez said. “Going into its seventh year, the program is actually growing stronger because we’ve extended the age group to 17 and the community really seems to appreciate what we’re doing.”

President Billy King (left), Honorary Commissioner of La Liga Samuel Dalembert (center, seated), 76ers mascot Hip-Hop (center) and 76ers Ambassador World B. Free (right) are present at the La Liga del Barrio annual tip-off.

For the fifth-consecutive season, Dalembert is serving as the Honorary Commissioner of La Liga. 76ers mascot Hip-Hop, radio analyst Todd MacCulloch, Director of Player Development/ Ambassador of 76ers Basketball World B. Free, as well as members of the Sixers Dancers joined him for the opening ceremonies.

“We are pleased to continue our strong and growing relationship with La Liga Del Barrio. The league provides a great outlet for all of the children involved to not only learn about the game of basketball but to develop as individuals in a terrific atmosphere,” said 76ers President Billy King.

La Liga’s fundamental purpose is to promote educational achievement, discipline, and focus on peer group socialization and collaboration. It also seeks to help in the development of basketball skills, the physical and mental preparation the sport demands, and the basic enjoyment of the sport. Each participant in the La Liga program will receive a La Liga T-Shirt and a Dalembert bobblearm.