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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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