Pirates Open 17-18 Season With We Play Hard Tournament

It's time for Pirate basketball! The 2017-18 season begins for the Ventura College men's team on Thursday nov. 2 as they once again will host the We Play Hard Tip-Off Tournament. This year's season-opening bracket is sponsored by the James Ennis Foundation. Ennis, a 2011 VC graduate, is currently in his fourth season in the NBA, currently in his second full season with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This year's tournament features a strong field, as three of the Top-15 teams in the Southern California preseason poll. The Pirates come in at No. 15 and will host Orange Coast at 7:00 pm on Thursday.  Other games include No. 7 Antelope Valley taking on Pasadena at 1:00 pm, Palomar battling LA Valley at 3:00 pm and No. 6 Riverside against Moorpark at 5:00 pm Thursday at the Atheltic Event Center. RCC is coached by VC Hall of Fame coach Phil Matthews guided the Pirates when both VC head coach Joey Ramirez and assistant Lester Neal donned the orange and black at VC.  Additionally, former Pirate head coach Virgil Watson heads the LA Valley team. Pirate games throughout the tournament can be seen live on the VC Sports Network. 

Fans coming to the game will encounter a modified entrance procedure as the Athletic Event Center lobby restrooms are currently under rennovation. Due to the construction, the lobby will be closed, and other entrances to the AEC will be utilized. Fans can enter through the northwest door, next to Parking Lot V (west of AEC), for floor bleacher seating.  Additionally, the upstairs bleacher seating and floor seating can be accessed through the southeast entrance to the AEC. Handicap parking will be behind the bleachers of the Sportsplex and wheel chair access will be from the floor level between the Small Gym and main floor.  Parking will be free of charge in Parking Lot V and Parking Lot W (in fromt of AEC) for the entire the event. New mobile restrooms will be located on the floor level near the southwest door to the AEC off the northwest entrance in Parking Lot V. 

Ticket prices will be reduced to $5.00 per day or $12.00 for a three-day-pass. Water, Gatorade and energy bars will be sold in the arena at the southeast and northwest corners along with programs.  There will also be a high quality food truck on sight by 3:00 pm Thursday and Friday and by 12:00 noon on Saturday.