basketballnews

Austin Rivers had 20 points to lead USA Basketball’s Junior National Select Team to a 92-80 win over the World Select Team at the Rose Garden over the weekend

2011-04-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

PORTLAND (Nike Hoop Summit) – Austin Rivers had 20 points to lead USA Basketball’s Junior National Select Team to a 92-80 win over the World Select Team at the Rose Garden over the weekend.

The 8,955 in attendance witnessed history being made as Bismack Biyombo of the Democratic Republic of Congo registered the game’s first-ever triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks.

However, that stellar performance by the 18-year-old wasn’t enough as cold shooting afflicted the world team. They shot 37.5 percent from the field for the game including a measly 14.3 percent in the first quarter.

The visitors won the battle on the boards, 41-39, but their shooting woes meant they couldn’t capitalise on their 23 offensive rebounds.

The USA, meanwhile, used their overall depth and talent to great effect, with Rivers well seconded by Anthony Davis (16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks) and 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship gold medalist Michael Gilchrist (16 points, five rebounds and five assists).

All 10 players got on the score sheet for the home team.

“I’m a big believer in having depth, and with this particular team you have quality depth,” said USA head coach Kevin Sutton. “Having a bench where you could rotate players in freely with very little to no drop off was part of our game plan.”

Rivers said that after a slow start, he and his team-mates figured each other out.

“It’s hard to get a rhythm,” Rivers said. “I thought we actually did great for having not ever played with each other. I started out a little bit slow, and then I knocked down a couple shots and after that I just kept going. My team-mates did a good job of finding me, and I just tried to get out in the open court because Anthony (Davis), (James) McAdoo and all of those guys were working so hard getting the rebounds.”

Biyomba had no regrets afterwards, saying the world team did all it could.

“I was trying to win,” said the 18-year-old, whose future is uncertain as he left his team of Fuenlabrada in Spain in order to play in the Nike Hoop Summit. His coach Salva Maldonado had warned him that the decision would cause him to lose his place in the squad.

“We came here, we’ve been practicing for four days. It’s really hard to play like we did. We tried our best on the court, but something happened.”
Poland’s Mateusz Potnika connected from long range for the opening points of the game and the World Team led 7-4 before Gilchrist went on a personal 7-0 run that put the USA in front and never trailed again.

Down 20-12 at the end of the first quarter, the international side got within 27-24 on a three-pointer by Canada‘s Kevin Pangos.

Rivers – the son of Boston Celtics head coach Glenn ‘Doc’ Rivers – answered right back with eight straight points to help the USA re-assert their firm grip on the game, taking a 42-31 lead at the break.

Davis had a dozen points in the third period to help the USA stretch that advantage to 50-36, but he then was headed to the bench after picking up his third foul.

The world team made the most of it, reeling off six unanswered points to trim the deficit back into single-digits.

But time and again the USA showed they had answers for every one of their opponents’ rally as James McAdoo and Quinn Cook provided a timely scoring punch that helped them head into the final frame with a 66-53 advantage.

The world team got within nine in the fourth quarter but there was little they could do as Rivers had eight points in the quarter alone and seven other USA players got on the scoreboard in that period.

McAdoo – a member of the All-Tournament Five in Hamburg last summer – gave the USA their largest lead, 86-66, from the free-throw line.

Potnika was the high-man for the world team, with 17 points. Canada’s Kyle Wiltjer – who resides in Portland – added 12.

The win saw the USA improve to 11-3 in the 14-game history of the event.

Read the original article at FIBA.com.

Omorogbe Jr. Confident of Immigration BC survival

2011-03-04T04:26:00.001-08:00

Newly promoted Kano-based Nigeria Immigration basketball club may have put all foot wrong in the Savannah conference of the DStv Premier Basketball league as it is yet to win any game losing both at home and away forcing speculation that it might not survive the heat of the big league in Nigeria but one it player, Nosa Omorogbe Junior is sure that though the club might be going through trying moment in the league but it will survive relegation at the end of the regular season.

Speaking with our correspondent recently, Omorogbe Jr. said its too early to write off the club as there are still over ten regular season games to be played as the players and coaching crew of the team have resolve to put in extra effort to make sure the club survive the tough terrain of the Nigeria DStv Premier which he described as one of the toughest in Africa.

The point guard want his teammates to see what the club is going through at the moment as its first baptism of fire in the big league after gaining promotion from the National Division-One in Kaduna last year.

The 21-year-old who played a prominent role in Immigration qualification to the Premier league has promised to put in extra effort to see that the team losing streak stopped.

Omorogbe Jr. had had stinct with such notable clubs in the Nigeria league clubs like Dodan Warriors basketball club, (2000-2003) (16ppg, 3rpg, 1.8spg, 0.2bpg, 29mpg, 5apg); Kano Pillars, Nigeria 2003-2006 (13ppg,4.1rpg,1.6spg,1.2bpg,22mpg,3apg); Dodan Warriors Nigeria 2006-2008 (19ppg,3rpg,0.8spg,0.7bpg,31mpg,3.8apg) and CSKA Sofia Bulgarian Pro A1 2008-2009 ( 9ppg,5rpg,2apg,0.4bpg,16mpg,3apg); Nigeria Customs BC 2009-2010. (21ppg,6rpg,7apg,4spg,32mpg,4.5apg).

The Nigeria Immigration team currently occupy the bottom of the table with 0-3 record in the Savannah conference of the DStv Premier League and only a concerted effort could see it survive the tough league from being relegated as it travel to Bauchi to keep a date with Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi in a week-4 pairing on Sunday.

Our goal is to improve structures - Fall, NBA Africa CEO

2011-01-24T05:49:00.001-08:00

Former director of scouting for the Dallas Mavericks, Amadou Fall is now the CEO of NBA Africa. It is up exclusively for Fiba Africa on the objectives of the NBA in Africa with Basketball Without Borders in particular.

Why the NBA decided to settle in Africa ?
We had an experience in South Africa. Since 2003, we organized Basketball Without Borders in Johannesburg. And, for the first time we were in Dakar (Senegal). We want to develop basketball and NBA in Africa. All the people want to see sports in general and basketball in particular.

What's the goal of the NBA ?
Our goal is to improve structures. We want more basketball players. Now, our games will broadcast on the TV in Senegal for the first time. We're working with young players and coaches. We want to improve them.
The aim is to organize NBA games in Africa.

It will be preseason games?
At the beginning, yes. This year, we'll have some games in London. We're working on this project.

Which actions did you make since you settle in Africa?
We have NBA Cares since 2005. We built 30 basketball courts. Our aim is to use basketball as a positive social change.
With Adidas, and Nike, we welcomed NBAs coaches such as Triano, Carlisle, Hollins and Lance Ebanks the new GM of Phoenix and we are proud to have Masai Ujiri, who is the GM of the Nuggets.

What is the reaction of NBA franchises from Africa? Their look has changed?
They are always open with foreign players. It's usual to have European, African players in the league. Before, we had African players such as Olajuwon, 2 times NBAs champion, Dikembe Mutombo and his long career... In the last 20 years, we had at least 25 African players playing in NBA. But it's more difficult to follow a player in Africa than in Europe. We hope more young players will come in the USA when they're young and then come back in Africa.

The biggest problem in Africa is not the political situation?
Personally, I think the biggest problem is the structures. There are a lot of arenas in Africa which aren't overcast. So it's difficult to organize big events.

Courtesy: www.fiba-afrique.org

Los Angeles Clippers sign Ike Diogu

2010-12-29T08:33:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles Clippers have signed forward Ike Diogu (6'8''-F/C-83, college: Arizona St.) to bolster their injury-depleted frontcourt.

The Clippers signed the former first-round draft pick on Wednesday, hours before their home game against Houston.

Chris Kaman, Craig Smith and Brian Cook all are out of the Clippers' lineup with injuries.

Diogu has been out of the NBA since Detroit cut him during training camp. After playing in 29 games during the 2008-09 season with Sacramento and Portland, the five-year NBA veteran missed all of last season following left knee surgery.

Kaman is out for a month with an injured left ankle, and the Clippers learned Tuesday that Smith will be out for at least two weeks after getting an epidural for a herniated disc in his lower back.

Courtesy of www.azcentral.com

Basketball Scam to get foreign players to South Africa

2010-11-12T04:43:00.001-08:00

Eurobasket usually stays away from similar cases trying to focus on strictly basketball (games, rosters, etc.) coverage. However we decided to post a warning for the scam going on, especially that it already affected some players.

So far players, who own a profile on chancesforallsports.com have been contacted by supposedly agents about playing for a team. The method is always the same. The supposedly agent tells the player about a great offer in Australia, offering 5000$ a month plus benefits. Questions about the team, what league they play in or further information, are ignored. As next step, the player is told that the team in Australia completed their roster, but that there would be a team in South Africa, which is looking for a new player, only issue - the player is asked to pay his own flight ticket, but would be reimbursed later.
The man, who acts as agent, is either named Richard Marante and uses the email-address topfameoverseabasketball7@gmail.com, or Anold Church, using the email-address anoldchurch@yahoo.co.uk. The name of the African team is Kwazulu Marlins in Durban South Africa, with the team email-address: kwazulumarlinsbasketballteam@gmail.com and the name Myles Delport is used as contact person for this team.

Victor Shakineza, who is the creator of the website mybasketball.co.za, did some research in those cases and contacted Myles Delport personally, who clarified that he had nothing to do with the emails sent out, and also confirmed that there hasnt been a league in South Africa for several years. It is not sure, if Richard Marante and Anold Church are the actual names of agents or if they are just other victims in this scam.

Players should watch out for offers like this, and look out for red flags such as paying for your own transportation, no names or information on the team that is looking for a player, and also the requirements of the agents as i.e. Anold Church requested to receive 20% of the players salary, instead of 10% as normally. He also signed one email with the name Allen instead of Anold.
Furthermore, the players were aware of the fact that the last roster of the team on afribasket.com is from the season 2006/07, and when they asked the supposedly agent about this, the answer was afribasket.com wouldnt be up to date. There is always a way to find out the truth, contact the actual writer for this section of eurobasket.com and all eurobasket- co-workers will be glad to assist you with the information you need.

If you are interested in more information about this scam, you can read more details about one potential victim under http://mybasketball.co.za/2010/09/basketball-scam-to-get-foreign-players-to-south-africa/

Champions Club Zone-3: Royal Hoopers end ABC invicibility

2010-11-12T04:37:00.001-08:00

Nigeria DStv league runner-up Royal Hoopers basketball club Thursday end the invicibility of Abidjan Basket Club, ABC with a 60-44 points victory in highly defensive game.

The Game-7 pairing between both sides came at a time both teams were enjoying excellent run in the FIBA Africa Champions Club Zone-3 Qualifiers with odd favouring the Ivories since they are not new on the African stage but the Nigerian debutant put pressure on the Abidjan-based ABC opening a ten points lead in the first quarter of 16-06 points.

Effort by ABC to fight back in the second quarter was rebuffed by the Hoopers who are determined to make it to the final round of the continent biggest club championship slated for Cotonou, Benin Republic between December 10-19, 2010, though Royal Hoopers lost the second quarter 12-13 points but they were able to maintain a nine points lead of 28-19 at half-time.

The Hoopers players who were pleased with their performance against ABC sustain the pressure winning the third quarter by 21-14 point and drew level with their opponent by 11-11 in the fourth quarter for a final score-line of 60-44 points to move to the second position behind Kano Pillars.

1992 Dream Team, Pippen, Mailman are Hall of Fame Finalists

2010-02-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

The 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, better known as the Dream Team, the first Olympic team to include NBA players, are one of the finalists for the team category for induction into the Jame Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

The powerful, star-studded team cruised to victory in both the Tournament of the Americas and Barcelona Olympics with an average victory margin of 43.8 points.

Eight members of that legendary team, that played 14 games in 1992, are already in the Hall of Fame as individuals, and will likely to be joined by at least two more – Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone, who are amongst the individual finalists this year. The remaining players from the Dream Team that have yet to be inducted are Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner.

Karl “the Mailman” Malone was the NBA’s MVP in 1997 and ‘99 and finished his career as the league’s number two scorer with 36,928 points behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Arguably the best power forward in NBA history, he still never won a title despite joining a star-laden Lakers team in 2004.

Another reason Malone never got a championship ring was because Pippen’s Bulls teams blocked the path both times the Utah Jazz made it to the finals. Pippen teamed up with Michael Jordan to win six championships in the 1990s.

Malone and Pippen would also play on the 1994 U.S. Team, or Dream Team II – a team that also featured original Dream Teamers John Stockton, Charles Barkley, and David Robinson, as well as Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

Returning finalists include fellow Dream Teamer Mullin, Boston Celtic’s guard Dennis Johnson, coach Don Nelson and four-time WNBA champion Cynthia Cooper from the now-defunct Houston Comets.

First Bank, First Deepwater rivalry good for Nigeria basketball Coach Aderemi

2010-02-19T09:42:00.000-08:00

Head coach of Nigeria and Africa champions Club for Women, First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos, Adewumi Aderemi, is looking forward to another intensive rivalry between his team and NBBF/ Zenith Bank Womens League runner-up First Deepwater Basketball Club of Lagos when the new season dunks off.

First Deepwater, who in her first season in the elite womens basketball league last year, ended the Elephant Girls seven-year unbeaten run in the local scene, winning 80-72 at the National Stadium, Lagos, on the last day of the 2009 season,.

But the highly experienced First Bank got its pound of flesh back when it walloped First Deepwater by 88-48 in the quarter-finals of the FIBA Africa Champions Club for Women in Benin Republic, on its way to winning the title.

Coach Aderemi believes the rivalry is good for the development of the game in Nigeria.

He said, 'The First Deepwater issue last year was very good; I liked the way they took the league by storm, challenging every team. We witnessed one of the best leagues last season and because of them, the standard of the womens league was very high last year. Its a welcome development.

'What helped us (First Bank basketball club) was that we won the first and second phase, which put us in good stead to win the league, and that is exactly what we are going to do this year again, the coach popularly called 'owolo' said.

On preparations for the new season, Coach Aderemi said his team was not under pressure to defend its titles in 2010

2011 Afrobasket for Men Bid: Nigeria Federation president confidence of chances

2010-01-27T08:30:00.000-08:00

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation President (NBBF), Tijjani Umar, has expressed confidence on the chances of the country winning the 2011 FIBA African Championship for Men.

Umar affirmed that it is only a matter of time before the country would be announced as the substantial host of the competition by the continental ruling body, FIBA Africa.

The NBBF boss says the federation has the endorsement of the Nigeria Minister for Sports, Engr. Sani Ndanusa to pursue the bid to its logical conclusion as the federation set machinery in motion to receive FIBA Africa team who are expected in the country to inspect facilities of the country bid city, Abuja.

We have the full support of the Federal Ministry of Sports and the Government of Nigeria to bid for the 2011 Afrobasket for Men. We have prepared well and we have all the facility needed for this level of championship, so we are very optimistic to emerge as the host country for the 2011 event, Umar said confidently.

The NBBF boss who led a four man delegation comprises of the 1st Vice President Mukthar Khaleh who is also a member of the Central Board of FIBA Africa as President of FIBA Africa Zone-III, Tagwai Yusuf and Mustapha Suleiman to formally present the bid document to the Central Board of FIBA Africa last weekend in Cairo, Egypt.

He added that the continental basketball body has set up an inspection committee that would visit the bidding countries soon to inspect facilities on ground.

The inspection team will be led by the Secretary General of the African body Dr. Alphonse Bile and other members of FIBA Africa will be in the country to inspect facilities at the Abuja National Stadium in April this year.

Nigeria is bidding for the 2011 Africa biggest basketball showpiece The Nations Cup which will serve as 2012 London Olympic Games qualifiers alongside, Cote dIvoire and Madagascar.

It will be recalled that Nigeria stepped down for Libya as host of the 16th edition of the competition won by Angola last year

rwanda 2009

2009-12-14T00:57:00.000-08:00

Champions Cup 2009
Day 1 Results
group A
MAZEMBE (COD) 51-A.P.R (RWA)91

GROUPB

COOP-BANK (KEN) WARRIORS (UGA)71 – 70

INTER-CLUB (CGO)-PRIMEIRO D’AGOSTO (ANG)74 – 115

Colangelo elected chairman of Hall of Fame Board

2009-12-03T08:13:00.000-08:00

Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of USA Basketball's Board of Directors and architect of the 2008 USA "Redeem Team" Gold Medal-winning effort was recently elected as Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Board at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees. Colangelo previously served as Board Vice Chairman, and will begin his two year term as Chairman immediately. Jackson replaces Mannie Jackson, who served as Chairman from 2007-2009.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jerry into his new role as Chairman" said John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "Jerry's remarkable dedication to the Hall and to the worldwide growth of basketball will help lead the Hall into our second 50 years of life with incredible confidence and excitement for our Museum's future and presence within the basketball community. Jerry is truly a dominating figure in the history of the game as evidenced by his election to the Hall as a Contributor in 2004 and we look forward to continuing the historic era of positive growth that marked the Chairmanship of Mannie Jackson."

"I am honored to be elected by our Board as its new Chairman, and I am committed to continuing the Hall's mission of preserving the history of the great game of basketball, promoting its core values, and growing the Hall of Fame's presence around the world," stated Mr. Colangelo. "I have been very fortunate to extend my passion for basketball into a wonderful 40 year career in the game and this is another way I am able to give back to the

game. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Mannie for his dedication and

generosity on behalf of the Hall during his term as Chairman."

A native of Chicago Heights, Illinois, Colangelo has been involved in basketball since earning All-State honors at Bloom Township High School in

1957 and then becoming an All-Conference selection at the University of Illinois in 1961 and 1962. Colangelo's professional career began in 1966 when he was named head scout and sales / promotion manager for the expansion Chicago Bulls. Two years later he was named General Manager of the expansion Phoenix Suns and he served as the leader of the Suns rising to the rank of President and CEO while being named NBA Executive of the Year four times. Mr. Colangelo also served as Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors from 2001 -- 2005. He was named Managing Director and then Chairman of USAB Basketball and is focused on additional Gold Medals at the 2010 World Championships and 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Continuing his transformation of downtown Phoenix, Mr. Colangelo was also instrumental in bringing major league baseball to Phoenix in 1998 and served as Chairman and CEO of the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.

Colangelo was also critically involved in bringing the NHL to Phoenix.

First Bank crown champion beat ABC 64-55

2009-11-24T00:35:00.000-08:00

Nigeria First Bank basketball club Sunday night defeated Abidjan Basket Club, ABC to the 2009 edition of the FIBA Africa Champions Club for Women crown by 64-55 points.

The Nigeria who earned a FIBA Africa wild-card did not drop a game enroute to being crown champion after six years of playing second fiddle to other teams on the continent.

First Bank won the three first three quarters to take the sail off the Ivories with 15-13, 15-09 and 19-17 going into the last quarter with a ten points advantage of 49-39 points.

Efforts by ABC spurred on by Fatoumata Camara who had a double double efforts of 23 points and 12 rebounds the highest by any player on the night could only yield the ABC side a slim 16-15 points win as they could not sustain the pressure mounted by the Nigerian.

First Bank basketball club Mecican-import, Brisa Silva led her team with 17 points and 3 rebounds, team captain, Funmilayo Ojelabi contributed 13 points and 3 rebounds while Mfon Udoka added 11 points and 5 rebounds with Adeola Olanrewaju grabbing 13 rebounds for her side.

First Bank Danielle Green lead role of honours, crown MVP

First Bank basketball club guard, Danielle Green has emerged as the 15th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Women most valuable player (MVP) with overwhelming votes by coaches and journalists.

Green was also named into the competition Top-5 players list, other award winners includes, Club Sportif d'Abidjan, CSA guard, Kani Kouyate who won the competition highest field-goal award and also a place in the Top-5 honours, Desportivo forward, Leia Dongue won the leading rebounder award while First Bank Brisa Silva won the best Three-Point award.

Other players named into the 2009 edition of the continent biggest women club competition award includes, Ana Flavia Azinheira of A"Politecnica basketball club of Mozambique, Rashidat Sadiq of First Bank basketball club and Abidjan Basket Club, ABC center, Fatoumata Camara.

First Bank basketball club received a giant trophy and gold medals, ABC got the silver medal while Desportivo got the bronze medals with the fair-play trophy going to Energie basketball club of Benin Republic.

First Bank book final ticket beat Interclube 69-65

2009-11-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

First Bank basketball club of Nigeria Saturday fought a hard battle to see off Interclube basketball club of Angola by 69-65 points after Over-time at the IRSP gymnase, Ouidah, Benin Republic.

The Nigerian side champion in 2003 entered the game as favourite due to her pedigree in the preliminary through the quarter-final stage winning the first quarter by 21-15 points, while the Angolan side came back strongly in the second quarter with a 20-17 points with half-time scores standing at 38-35 points in favour of First Bank.

Interclube continue her charged on the First Bank side at the resumption of play in third quarter winning the quarter by 1°-08 points cut down their deficit to just one points of 46-45 points going into the last quarter which they also won 15-14 points to even scores at 60-60 points to set-up a five-minute over-time.

First Bank falls back to three points play in the over-time which paid off as Rashidat Sadiq and Danielle Green took time to pound Interclube with repeated three points shot to win at 69-65 points.

First Bank Danielle Green led the floor with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists while Adeola Olanrewaju recorded 11 points and 5 rebounds to help their side book a grand finale ticket.

First Bank will now take on the winner of the second semi-final between defending champions, Desportivo basketball club of Mozambique and Abidjan Basket Club of Cote d'Ivoire on Sunday at the Palais des Sports in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers: First Deepwater truly the first beat CSA 51-50

2009-11-21T04:19:00.000-08:00

Africa team of the moment, First Deepwater basketball club of Nigeria makes history at the FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers holding in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire when it recorded a hard earned 51-50 points victory over CSA basketball club of Cote dIvoire.

The Nigerian side made up of an entirely home-based players picked the first three quarter of the tense game against the Ivorian league champion by 13-10, 14-12 and 15-13 points respectively to move into the last quarter with a 42-35 points advantage.

The CSA side spurred on by Cote dIvoire national team guard and reigning FIBA Africa Championship for Women leading scorer, Kani Kouyate came into the quarter with a determination to turn the table against their Nigerian opponent as time ticks away winning the quarter by 15-09 points but the effort was not good enough as the Coach Lateef Erinfolami tutored First Deepwater side held their ground to pick her third win by 51-50 points.

First Deepwater basketball club forward, Ijeoma Frank Uchendu was fantastic for her side recording a double double figure of 13 points and 11 rebound, her compatriot, Kelechi Obasi contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds while Rebecca Iritei added 10 points and 3 rebounds.

Kani Kouyates big effort of 16 points and 9 rebounds was not enough to save her side from going down.

First Deepwater basketball club will Friday play her last game against Togolese CBS at 17.00Hours while CSA have an herculean task of dislodging Abidjan Basket Club, ABC basketball club at 19.00Hours.

FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers: ABC compound First Bank woes, win 81-72

2009-11-21T04:09:00.000-08:00

Abidjan Basket Club (ABC) of Cote dIvoire late Thursday compounded the woes of Nigeria women league champion, First Bank basketball club in the FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers with a 81-72 points victory to inch nearer picking a ticket to the final round of the 16th FIBA Africa Champions Club Cup for Women.

ABC who lost to Nigeria First Deepwater basketball club by 61-53 points on Tuesday gave their all to see off the challenges poised by the Elephant Girls.

ABC forward, Fatoumata Camara big effort of 17 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 block-shot was enough to give her side victory over the Nigeria champion who won the African title in 2003.

First Bank rallied to a 16-12 points win in the first quarter of the highly charged game but the Ivorian side charged back like a wounded Elephants in the second quarter and never looked back until the buzzer-shot winning the three remaining quarters by 20-17, 25-17 and 24-22 points respectively.

ABC play-maker, Achiata Diomande also gave a good account of her-self scoring 17 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds, Salimata Berte contributed 17 points just as Tshiniangu Kalanda added 12 points and 9 rebounds for a well deserved victory for the former Ivorian league champion.

First Bank play her last qualifiers game against Unity Basketball Club, UBC of Togo as the team jets back home aboard Ethiopia Airline Friday

First Bank through to semi-final beat First Deepwater

2009-11-21T03:55:00.000-08:00

First Bank basketball club of Nigeria Friday defeated her Nigeria rival, First Deepwater basketball by 88-48 points in the first quarter-finals of the 15th FIBA Africa Champions Club for Women at the ISPR gymnase, Ouidah , Benin Republic.

The Elephant Girls who paraded eight Nigeria senior women national team players overwhelmed the First Deepwater players from the blast of the referee whistle to the end of the game winning in all four quarters.

With the win, First Bank now became the first team to book a place in the semi-finals where they will slug it out against the winner of the quarter-final duel between A'Politecnica basketball club of Mozambique and Interclube basketball club of Angola on Saturday. First Bank won in all four quarters 26-12, 14-11, 26-07 and 22-18 for a final score-line of 88-48.

But First Deepwater youthful forward, Ijeoma Uchendu gave a good account of herself with good post moves amid experience forward lined-up by First Bank in the game which turned one-sided as she scored 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.

First Bank America import, Danielle Green, led the floor with a double double effort of 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists; Mexican-born guard Brisa Silva added 18 points, Chioma Udeaja contributed 16 points and 8 rebounds just as the duo of Funmilayo Ojelabi and US-base Rashidat Sadiq contributed 13 and 10 points respectively.

First Bank basketball club head coach, Adewumi Aderemi praised the gallant First Deepwater basketball players but thumb-up his ward for being so fantastic.

Coach Aderemi declared emphatically that nothing will stop his team from clinching the diadem they last won in 2003.

'We are set for all oppositions in this competition and I want to say with due respect to other teams that nothing will stop us from being crowned champion this time after almost seven years since we last won it in 2003 as we are tired of placing third every time.

‘Though we won our quarter-final game against our Nigeria opponent, First Deepwater by a wide margin that does not take away the fact that they are a good side remember they came top at the zone-III qualifiers in Abidjan , the coach concluded

Warriors, Islanders Await NBBF. For League Final Eight Date.

2009-10-15T04:44:00.000-07:00

Eight teams from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences who have qualified for the final eight of this year’s DSTV Multi Choice/NBBF Premier Basketball League said they were yet to receive an official date for the showdown which is billed for the Indoor Sport Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

In a chat with Dordan Warriors handler, Peter Ahmedu, he said despite the fact that NBBF is yet to announce the date for the final eight, his side is currently in camp intensifying preparation ahead of the showdown that will take place hopefully later this month. He also believes that other teams in the Final Eight are currently doing the same.

The teams that have qualified through the regular season for the final eight from Atlantic Conference are Lagos Islanders, Union Bank, Dordan Warriors and Royal Hoppers of Port-Harcourt while Kano Pillars Kada Stars, Plateau Peaks and Yelwa Hawks qualified from the Sarannah Conference.

Warriors, Islanders Await NBBF. For League Final Eight Date.

2009-10-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

Ahmedu Advises NBBF

2009-10-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

One time board member of Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF Colonel Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) has advised the new board led by Tijani Umar to embark on youth programmes that will enable the country to have young and fresh players that can represent Nigeria at international competitions.

Speaking recently, the Dordan Warriors boss said he was worried that there is no specific programme designed to catch the players when they are still young.

“Basketball is a game that is very physical and it needs a lot of energy. If we don’t try to have youth programmes, then it will be difficult to face real competition in basketball,” the former NBBF board member said.

“We saw what happened to our team in Libya compare to teams like Angola, Cameroun and others who have good developmental programmes to promote their basketball.”

Algeria won Gold and qualify for the IWBF World Championship!

2009-10-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

Algeria Men Wheelchair Basketball Team won Gold in the IWBF Africa World Cup Qualifiers last night in Johannesburg beating South Africa 77:72 to qualify for Africas only spot in the IWBF 2010 World Championship in Birmingham, England.

The Mandeville Indoor Centre was filled to the brim with spectators and fans. The atmosphere was charged with deafening sounds of the Vuvulzelas. The SASOL boys played their heart out in a closely contested game. The Algerians broke-away in the 2nd quarter leading 52:39 at halftime.

But the Amawheeler boys came back in the last quarter and level things up but failed to covet 4 straight 3pointers giving the Algerians the opportunity to take the lead once again. Even Richard Nortjies 26 points and 10 rebounds could not make the desired difference as Algeria eventually won the match 77:72.
Algeria ended the championship unbeaten having defeated South Africa 71:68 in the opening game.

David Curle and Thandile Zonke scored 19 and 11 points respectively.

Richard Nortjie of South Africa was voted the MVP

At the end of the tournament, the teams classification was as follows:

1. Algeria
2. South Africa
3. Morocco
4. Angola
5. Kenya
6. Zimbabwe

Afrobasket U16 Men 2009

2009-09-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

The young Pharaoh of Egypt has emerged as the champion of the FIBA Africa Championship for U16 Men at the weekend in Maputo, Mozambique with an 84-82 points hard earned victory over Mali.

Egypt who defeated Nigeria by 74-71 points in the semi-final last Friday engaged the Malian strength for strength from the beginning of the pulsating game till the buzzer to pick the continents sole ticket to the 2010 FIBA World Championship for U17 Men slated for Germany.

Nigeria whose good run in the championship was truncated by Egypt in the semi-final settled for the bronze medal after seeing off Algeria in the third place game by 65-56 points.

The Nigerian young lad will return to the country Monday night aboard South Africa airways.

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar applauded the boys effort at the Africa Cadet Championship, promising that the federation will do everything to continue to encourage the development of the game at the grassroots.

The NBBF boss says the boys have shown that Nigeria is blessed with abundant of talents that can represent the country well at any competition.

He praised the team handlers led by Adamu Kuta of Niger Potters basketball club of Minna for doing the country proud as five players of the team who were pick for random MRI test age fortification passed the test.

The five players include, Michael Ikima, Christopher Ogekpa, Naama Namsap, Mofe Edukugho and Daniel Garga were tested alongside other players from other countries by a team of anti-MRI officials of the continental ruling body, FIBA Africa in Mozambique.

DSTV Basketball League: Pillars win away from home

2009-09-30T06:20:00.000-07:00

Savannah conference leader and reigning champion of the Nigeria league, Kano Pillars basketball club at the weekend defeated Kadda Stars basketball club of Kaduna by 90-62 points.

The game which took place at the sports hall of the Kaduna State Sports Council at the Murtala Square in Kaduna was dubbed the star game of the Savannah conference of the DSTV Basketball League going by both sides Pre-game rating.

The Coach Sani Ahmed Pillars who are determined to lead the Savannah conference to the final eight play-offs took their host to the cleaner in a game many had expected the Stars who recently returned to the Nigeria big league after many years in limbo.

And in the Atlantic conference, Delta Force basketball club of Asaba compounded the woes of Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos with a 62-56 points win.

With these lose the hope of the rampaging Warriors of landing a play-offs berth now hang in the balance as it has one regular season game left against Union Bank basketball club on Wednesday, while conference leader, Lagos Islanders basketball club almost paid for being complacence against the Police Bombers at the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos as it manage to win the encounter by 86-80 points in over-time.

The Coach Ogoh Odaudu tutored Islanders side had underrated their opponent who took the advantage of the lackadaisical Islanders side stretching the game into over-time after both sides ended scores at 73 points apiece after 40 minutes before the Islanders could break away in the five minutes over-time to win at 86-80 points.