Despite a Saturday downpour, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Vulcan Society for Black firefighters got a chance to adorn a different uniform this past weekend as they kicked off their annual 3 v 3 basketball tournament at Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn.
FDNY Fire Chaplain Dr. Rev. V. Simpson Turner Jr. founded the tournament in 2021 initially to honor Captain Vernon A. Richards, one of the 12 Black firefighters who died in the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. Since then the tournament has evolved to include the anti-gun violence youth program that is in partnership with Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Brooklyn. Thomas Jefferson High School, where the tournament is held, also has a robust FDNY/Emergency Medical Services (EMS) curriculum and training program.
“A lot of the time when people see firefighters, or police officers, or corrections officers, it’s the worst day of their lives,” said Turner. “It’s about creating less adversarial moments. Humanizing us. See each other as people.”
The tournament was split up into four color-coordinated teams with mostly firefighters and a few civilians who subbed in for injured players.
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FDNY teams battle it out. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
Point guards go head-to-head. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
The player fights to make a jumpshot. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
The team waits for the ball to hit or miss. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
Coaches on the sideline call out plays. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
The player intensely guards another from shooting. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
Two teams disagree with the referee over a play. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
Players take a short water break. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
FDNY Fire Chaplain Dr. Rev. V. Simpson Turner Jr. at the Vulcan Society Basketball Tournament at Thomas (Ariama C. Long photo) -
Jefferson High School on July 11, 2026. (Ariama C. Long photo) -
FDNY Fire Chaplain Dr. Rev. V. Simpson Turner Jr. setting up the morning tournament games. (Ariama C. Long photo)
The roster for Team Blue featured Team Captain Sasha Forde, Akeem EL Bey, and Bryceton Perdomo from Manhattan’s Battalion 7, alongside truck driver Shavon Allen and Sebastien Dalmacy, who is a New York State Mental Health worker.
Representing Team Green was Team Captain Kaseem Porter of the Bronx’s Ladder 50. He is joined by fellow Ladder 50 members Moustapha Mbaye, Jerome Brown, and Mikiel Maloney, with Alonzo Martinez, a civilian, completing the roster.
Team Maroon’s roster was Team Captain Olawale Lawal and Joey Augustin, both from Brooklyn’s Engine 234, as well as Romane Green from Engine 227 and Muhammad Karim from Engine 205 in Brooklyn.
And rounding off Team Aqua Blue was the distinguished FDNY Chief Special Ops Command (SOC) Malcolm Moore as team captain, with SOC Denzel Wilson, Leef Allieoll, Jamie Zeigler, and Ola Alabi.
The post Play Ball! FDNY Vulcans 3-on-3 basketball tournament appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.
