PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Military Basketball Association (MBA) will host the Atlantic Coast Regional Conference Playoffs this weekend at Temple University's McGonigle Gym.
“They may have had post-traumatic injuries sustained during deployment, and this league serves as an outlet for them,” said Maj. Mike Myers, founder and commissioner of the MBA League.
MBA was founded in 2017 by Myers and Sergeant First Class Angel Acevedo, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
After returning home, both men experienced the suicides of senior officers and the deaths of soldiers under their command as they dealt with the ravages of war and what they had seen and done on duty.
“I know their struggles and I know what basketball means to them,” Montford Point Marines head coach Joseph Menskole said. “This allows our young players to really compete through adversity. It also shows them off the court how to overcome the issues and some of the issues that they have.”
Mental health and suicide are known to disproportionately impact veterans.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for veterans under the age of 45, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Really, this is like everything to me. I'm looking forward to this,” said Sgt. Jarmond Cuttenhead, point guard for the Montford Point Marines. “Sometimes it was hard to get home from work, or you had family issues. When you step on the court and you're around your brothers and sisters, it's a breath of fresh air.”
In the six years since the league began, there have been no suicides among players or coaches.
Aaron Douglas, a Marine Corps veteran who serves as a range ranger at Montford Point Marine Corps, said, “I can tell you personally that I suffered from adjustment disorder for eight years when I left the Marine Corps.'' “It was,” he said. “It takes the weight off my shoulders and it’s so much fun when we all get together.”
Veterans Affairs is currently partnering with the league to use the game as a way to highlight the invisible wounds veterans face.
Myers and Acevedo will compete in the MBA World Championship Finals in a thrilling doubleheader at Temple University's Liacolas Center over Memorial Day weekend in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The men's final will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Once the other regional conference games are completed, regional conference play concludes in Philadelphia.
Tickets for the double header are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.
Women's tip-off is at 5 p.m., men's tip-off is at 7 p.m., and only $21 per seat.
