A new tradition on Queen’s campus has taken the school by storm over the last couple of years, and on March 13, the Engineering vs. Commerce rivalry basketball game will return.

But before Queen’s caught basketball fever, getting the game to happen in the first place took a lot of hard work.

It all started two years ago, when Queen’s student Youssef Serry was at the annual Engineering vs. Commerce hockey game. His friend wondered why there wasn’t a similar basketball game, and Serry was inspired.

Serry worked tirelessly to make this game a reality, but he did more than just make the game an annual tradition.

“I started my own charity back in Egypt called the Concrete Rose Foundation, which aims to provide education to those less fortunate,” Serry saidin an interview. “I decided that since I had control over both the game and the charity, I would donate all the proceeds from the event to the charity.”

But this year, the proceeds will go toward the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.

Team Engineering, coached by Serry and Justin Horne, is highlighted by varsity men’s basketball rising star Cole Syllas.

Team Commerce is coached by Cole Steeves and Alex Matheson. Isabella Belvedere from the varsity women’s basketball team and James Michaelis from the men’s soccer team will lead the way for them.

To market the game, Serry managed to get NBA legends Vince Carter and Kareem Abdul Jabbar to send in videos supporting the different faculties (Carter was for Commerce, and Abdul Jabbar gave a shout out to Engineering). The Boston Celtics’ Enes Kanter supported Commerce, too.

“I am humbled by the success the event has had and can do nothing but be thankful and look forward to what the future holds for both the Engineering vs. Commerce Basketball Game and the Concrete Rose Foundation,” Serry said.