Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Nicole Walker, group marketing manager of NCB Jamaica, signs the sponsor's cheque of $2 million at the presentation ceremony to the national senior netball team for NCB Sunshine Savers Tri-nation series yesterday, before handing it to Marva Bernard, president of the Jamaica Netball Association. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

THE JAMAICA Netball Association (JNA) received a major boost a week before it plays host to South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, when the National Commercial Bank (NCB) announced a $2 million spon-sorship yesterday at its head-quarters on Trafalgar Road, New Kingston.

The series begins on Monday at the National Indoor Sports Complex (NISC) at 7:00 p.m.

Nicole Walker, group marketing manager at NCB, handed over her company's sponsorship cheque to Marva Bernard, president of the JNA and Sonia Hamilton chief executive officer of the association, at the Atrium.

Hamilton was delighted with NCB's sponsorship, but said the association would welcome addi-tional sponsors.

"We are thankful to NCB for this sponsorship because, without them, I don't think we would be able to put on this tri-nation series," she said. "We are on cloud nine at the moment, even though it is going to cost us a lot more to host this series. We can start paying our bills now."

More sponsorship needed

Hamilton added that most of the money would go towards renting the NISC, but the association was still negotiating with a number of other potential sponsors.

The Sunshine Girls, who are ranked number four in the world, captured the bronze medal at last year's World Championships, beating England in the third place play-off in Auckland, New Zealand.

However, based on the revised rankings system, they were rated fourth in the world due to an earlier 3-0 loss to England in a practice series.

"This is a very important series for us because of the new ranking system by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA). It will go towards improving our ranking or maintaining of our position at number four," Hamilton said.

"We are feeling very confident that we are going to have an exciting series and we are going to come out the winners. However, we can't overlook the talents of the other two teams, but I feel confident that we are going to be successful."