Tunde Popoola’s Decision Was Spot On – Says NBBF President

Adeola Olaiya of Kano Pillars dribbles Akpara Akita of Mark Mentors in jersey no 9 PHOTO CREDIT AKINKUMI FARINTO

The president of the Nigerian Basketball federation Mr Tijjani Umar on Saturday at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium said umpire Tunde Popoola got the decision to cancel the final basket scored by Mark Mentors basketball club of Abuja right at the Final Match of the DSTV Premier Basketball League Final 8, After he and the chairman of Mark Mentors club Mark Igoche came out of the OB van of TV right owners SuperSport to review the dying seconds of the epic final match.

“From the replay it was clear that Musa Usman still had possession of the ball as time expired. The referee dully indicated that, and from the video footage I and the Mark Mentors chairman saw, the referee got the decision spot on”.

Controversy struck at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium in Lagos when referee Tunde Popoola cancelled Mark Mentors guard, Musa Usman’s basket at the end of the game on Saturday. Mark Mentors who lead all through the game, lead by 4 points with 21 seconds of the game to spare.

However there was a dramatic twist of fortune when Pillars took the lead by one, 89-88 points with 5 seconds left on the game clock courtesy a 3 points shot from Abubakar Usman after team mate Adeolu Olaiya’s dunk reduced the deficit to 2 points earlier.

With the championship title still at stake, Mark Mentors pushed to score within the 5 seconds left. They did score, but it was a tale of too little too late. As time expired before they could get the ball in the basket.

Kano Pillars successful defended the title they won last season and match winner Abubakar Usman going home with his 2nd consecutive Most Valuable Player of the Final 8 award.

Nda’ Abu as he is popularly called also won the highest scorer award having ended the tournament as the leading scorer with 138 points in 5 matches. While Mark Mentors Forward Abdul Yahaya went home with the highest rebounder award.

Mathew Onmonya, Kano Pillars Captain, receiving the 1st place trophy from PR Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma; Mark Igoche and Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijjani Umar during the final of 2014 DStv Basketball League PHOTO CREDIT AKINKUNMI FARINTO

DStv Premier Basketball League Final 8 Classification Games Results

Classification Games Results (Today)

Union Bank 66-72 Oluyole Warriors OT
Islanders 74-70 Plateau Peaks

Tomorrow’s Fixtures (Friday 18th July, 2014)

CLASSIFICATION GAMES
5th place Playoff Game
Oluyole Warriors Vs Islanders 12pm

7th place Playoff Game
Union Bank Vs Plateau Peaks 2pm

SEMI FINAL Games
Kano Pillars Vs Gombe Bulls 4pm
Mark Mentors Vs Dodan Warriors 6pm

Akinwale Seun in jersey No 10 of Islanders going for a dunk against a player of Mark Mentors during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League Final 8

DSTV Basketball League Final 8 Day Three Results

Day 3 Results 15/7/2014

2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League Final 8 , Adeola Olaiya in jersey No 9 of Kano Pillars and Philemon Dimka Plateau Peaks

Union Bank 77-71 Plateau Peaks
Emeka. A 25 Pts, 7 rebs / Njoku C. 16 pts, 10 rebs
Ikonshul G.18 Pts, 3 rebs / Prewit G. 10 Pts, 4 rebs

Oluyole Warriors 34-53 Gombe Bulls
Balogun K. 10 Pts , 3 rebs / Sylvanus Yakubu 22 Pts, 10 rebs
Bayo A. 8 Pts, 5 rebs / Austin Eye 10 Pts, 4 rebs

Islanders 50-53 Mark Mentors
Hillary A. 22 Pts, 1 rebounds / Gumut S. 13 Pts, 6 rebs
Solomon I. 6 Pts, 5 rebs / Victor Anthony 11 Pts, 6 rebs

Dodan Warriors 79 -84 Kano Pillars
Romaric Q. 27 Pts, 7 rebs / Abu Usman 31 Pts, 4 rebs
Azuoma D. 19 Pts, 8 rebs, 4 asts / Ademola D.16 Pts, 10rebs

Semi Finals ( Fri. 17/7/2014)
Kano Pillars Vs Gombe Bulls
Mark Mentors Vs Dodan Warriors

Prewet Gagara in jersey No 5 of Plateau Peaks going for a dunk against Kano Pillars player during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League Final 8

Note: Tomorrow Wednesday 16th July, 2014 will be observed as a rest day.
Action resumes on Thursday in the classification games.

DSTV Premier Basketball League Final 8 Playoffs Day 2 Results

DSTV Premier Basketball League Final 8 Playoffs, Day 2 Results and Top performers

obum-onyia-in-jersey-no-13-of-union-bank-trying-to-dribble-roland-alalibo-in-jersey-no-16-of-dodan-warriors

Day 2 Results and Top performers

Oluyole Warriors 43-63 Islanders
Bayo. A 7 Pts, 8 rebs / Ibrahim Okpe 16 pts, 10 rebs

Kano Pillars 93-53 Plateau Peaks
A.Usman 25 Pts, 4rebs / C. Njoku 13 Pts,10 rebs

Gombe Bulls 58-76 Mark Mentors
Yakubu s. 13 Pts, 3 rebs / Yahaya 17 Pts, 10rebs

Union Bank 52-65 Dodan Warriors
Emmanuel A. 10 Pts, 1 reb/ Azuoma 31 Pts, 5 rebs

Live action at the National Stadium Lagos and on Supersport9

DSTV Pro Basketball League Play-off Fixtures And Results

DStv PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

GROUP A
LAGOS ISLANDERS
MARK MENTORS
GOMBE BULLS
OLUYOLE WARRIORS

GROUP B
KANO PILLARS
UNION BANK
DODAN WARRIORS
PLATEAU PEAKS

DAY 1

DATE: 13/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

GAME 1

Dodan Warriors vs Plateau Peaks

DATE: 13/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 12noon – 2pm

GAME 2

Mark Mentors vs Oluyole warriors

DATE: 13/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 2pm – 4pm

GAME 3

Kano pillars vs Union bank

DATE: 13/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 4pm – 6pm

GAME 4

Islanders vs Gombe Bulls

DATE: 13/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 6pm – 8pm

DAY 1 RESULTS

DODAN WARRIORS 71 – 47 PLATEAU PEAKS

MARK MENTORS 82 – 61 OLUYOLE WARRIORS

KANO PILLARS 88 – 71 UNION BANK

ISLANDERS 42 – 45 GOMBE BULLS

DAY 2

DATE: 14/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

GAME 5

Oluyole vs Islanders

DATE: 14/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 12 – 2pm

GAME 6

Kano pillars vs Plateau peaks

DATE: 14/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 2pm – 4pm

GAME 7

Mentors vs Gombe bulls

DATE: 14/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 4pm – 6pm

GAME 8

Union bank vs Dodan warriors

DATE: 14/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 6pm – 8pm

DAY 2 RESULTS

Oluyole Warriors 43-63 Islanders

Kano Pillars 93-53 Plateau Peaks

Gombe Bulls 58-76 Mark Mentors

Union Bank 52-65 Dodan Warriors

DAY 3

DATE: 15/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

GAME 9

Union bank vs plateau peaks

DATE: 15/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 12pm– 2pm

GAME 10

Oluyole vs Gombe bulls

DATE: 15/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 2pm – 4pm

GAME 11

Islanders vs Mentors

DATE: 15/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 4pm – 6pm

GAME 12

Dodan warriors vs kano pillars

DATE: 15/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS

TIME: 6pm – 8pm

DAY 3 RESULTS

Union Bank 77-71 Plateau Peaks

Oluyole Warriors 34-53 Gombe Bulls

Islanders 50-53 Mark Mentors

Dodan Warriors 79 -84 Kano Pillars

DAY 4

DATE: 16/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

REST DAY

DAY 5

GAME 14

3rd Group A vs 4th Group B

DATE: 17/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 3pm-5pm

GAME 15

3rd Group B vs 4th Group A

DATE: 17/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 5pm-7pm

Classification Games Results

Union Bank 66-72 Oluyole Warriors OT

Islanders 74-70 Plateau Peaks

DAY 6

GAME 16

Loser 14 vs Loser 15

DATE: 18/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 12pm –2pm

GAME 17

Winner 14 vs Winner 15

DATE: 18/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 2pm- 4pm

GAME 18

1st Group A vs 2nd Group B – Semi-final

DATE: 18/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 4pm-6pm

GAME 19

1st Group B vs 2nd Group A – Semi-final

DATE: 18/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 6pm-8pm

DAY 7

GAME 20

Loser 18 vs Loser 19 (3rd place game)

DATE: 19/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 1pm-3pm

Winner 18 vs Winner 19 (Finals)

DATE: 19/7/14

VENUE: NATIONAL.STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

TIME: 4pm-6pm

NOTE:
A. Teams named first are The Home Team.

B. Top 2 placed teams in each group shall quality for the SEMI-FINALS.

C. For the SEMI-FINALS A 1st vs B 2nd and B 1st vs A 2nd

FINALS
• WINNER of A vs WINNER of B.
• Losers of A vs loser of B for Third place.

Results of Week 14 DSTV Basketball Premier league (Atlantic Conference games)

Kwara Falcons 80 – 78 Union Bank

Royal Hoopers 83 – 72 Dodan Warriors

Police Baton 89 – 81 Oluyole Warriors

Customs 54 – 67 Lagos Islanders

Royal Hoopers officially relegated.

Atlantic Conference Log
Pos. Team Win- Loss Pts
1. Islanders 10-4 24
2. Dodan Warriors 10-4 24

3. Union Bank 9-5 23
4. Oluyole Warriors 9-5 23

5. Customs 6-8 20
6. Kwara Falcons 6-8 20
7. Police Baton 4-10 18
8. Royal Hoopers 4-10 17*

(*) lost 1 point due to match forfeit (Walked over)

Savannah Conference Fixtures (Friday)

Niger Potters Vs Mark Mentors – 4pm – Abuja
Bauchi Nets Vs Plateau Peaks – 4pm – Bauchi
Gombe Vs Kano Pillars – 4pm – Gombe
Immigration Vs Kada Stars – 4pm – Kaduna

Savannah Conference Log
Pos. Team Win- Loss Pts
1. Kano Pillars 12-1 25
2. Mark Mentors 11-2 24
3. Gombe Bulls 10-3 23
4. Plateau Peaks 6-7 19
5. Immigration 4-9 17

6. Niger Potters 4-9 16*

7. Bauchi Nets 3-10 16

8. Kada Stars 2-11 15

(*) lost 1 point due to match forfeit (Walked over)

Oluwafemi Adefeso

DSTV Basketball Premier league, Log, Fixtures and Updates

Frank Okafor in jersey No 8 of Police Baton going for a lay-up against Dodan Warriors player during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier

With all playoffs spots sealed in both the Atlantic and the Savannah Conference. Most of the Week 14 games in the DSTV Premier league will be a formality. Union Bank, Lagos Islanders, Dodan Warriors and Oluyole Warriors have made it through the highly competitive Atlantic Conference, while the Savannah Conference easily produced defending champions Kano Pillars, who stood head and shoulders above of the rest of the pack with a solitary loss all season. Kano Pillars is joined by the impressive Mark Mentors and Gombe Bulls while Plateau Peaks completes the quartet of savannah conference playoffs teams.

With much said about the playoffs bound teams the battle for premier league survival will enter the last 40 minutes of regular season basketball. With all fingers pointing to former back to back champions Royal Hoopers taking the drop ahead of Police Baton in the Atlantic conference. It’s a more interesting affair in the Savannah Conference with Bauchi Nets, Kada Stars and Niger Potters all locked in the relegation battle.

The League management board moved Atlantic Conference Week 14 games to Midweek (11th June) in other to accommodate the Zenith Bank female league Final 8 which tips off on Friday 13th June, 2014 at the National Stadium. Lagos. Th board however left the Savannah Conference week 14 schedule the same. You can be rest assured the final day in both conferences promises some mouthwatering encounters.

In the Atlantic Conference on Wednesday…

Police Baton Vs Oluyole Warriors – 4pm – Lagos.
Royal Hoppers Vs Dodan Warriors – 4 pm- Port Harcourt
Customs Vs Lagos Islanders – 6pm – Lagos
Kwara Falcons Vs Union Bank- 4pm – Ilorin

While the Savannah Conference has…..

The Survival Battle Royale which tips off by 4 pm in all venues.

Immigration V Kada Stars (Kaduna Derby)

Kada Stars struggles took a turn for the worse last week as their 38 point loss to defending Champions Kano Pillars took them to the bottom of the Savannah conference log. With just 2 wins, 11 losses and 15 points in their kitty, Kada will need will an outright win on friday and hope that either Bauchi Nets or Niger Potters or both clubs lose in week 14 to have a chance to save their premier league status. With their fate not in their hands, the Kaduna derby promises to be full of intrigue.
Bauchi Nets Vs Plateau Peaks – Bauchi

The Nets are just a point ahead of Kada Stars with 16 points from 3 wins and 10 losses. With the Peaks having secured the Playoffs. The Nets have their premier league status hanging on a thin thread. The Nets unlike Kada Stars have their fate in their hands. A win will seal it, but a loss will leave their survival hope hanging on the result of the other two relegation bound teams. With Plateau Peaks having little to play for and home advantage in their favour. The odds favour the Nets to survive. But will They?
Niger Potters Vs Mark Mentors – Minna

Niger Potters finally ported out of the bottom of the log to 6th place last week. Benefiting from slip ups by the Nets and Kada Stars. Though not totally safe, Potters still need to win to cement the premier league stake. However a loss will not be devastating for the Niger Boys if Bauchi Nets lose at home to the Peaks and Kada fall prey to the Mentors.

Current Log DStv Premier Basketball League.

Atlantic Conference
Pos. Team Win- Loss Pts
1. Islanders 9-4 22
2. Dodan Warriors 9-4 22
3. Union Bank 9-4 22
4. Oluyole Warriors 8-5 21
5. Customs 6-7 19
6. Kwara Falcons 5-8 18
7. Police Baton 3-10 15
8. Royal Hoopers 3-10 14*

Savannah Conference
Pos. Team Win- Loss Pts
1. Kano Pillars 12-1 25
2. Mark Mentors 11-2 24
3. Gombe Bulls 10-3 23
4. Plateau Peaks 6-7 19
5. Immigration 4-9 17
6. Niger Potters 4-9 16*
7. Bauchi Nets 3-10 16
8. Kada Stars 2-11 15

(*) lost the 1 point for loss due to match forfeit (Walked over)

Malu Williams in jersey No 9 of Police Baton trying to dribble Agladima Emmanuel in jersey No 7 of Union Bank during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Male Basketball League

Oluwafemi Adefeso

Photo Credit:Akinkunmi Farinto

Dodan, Mark Mentors, 6 Others Seal Play-off Places…

2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League Week 13 Results

DSTV Week 13 Results:

Frank Okafor in jersey No 8 of Police Baton going for a lay-up against Dodan Warriors player during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier

Atlantic Conference

Islanders 67-61 Union Bank

Oluyole 95-73 Customs

Royal Hoopers 100-67 Kwara Falcons

Dodan Warriors 83-64 Police Baton

Savannah Conference

Plateau Peaks 73-49 Immigration

Mark Mentors 89-63 Bauchi Nets

Niger Potters 42-37 Gombe Bulls

Kada Stars 53-92 Kano Pillars

With only just one more round of games to go in the Regular Season the Playoff places are now complete, while it might rosy for the top four teams four teams in both the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences, what left now is the relegation battle between teams that are trying to beat the drop.

While that will come to fore on the last day of the league, here is the List of teams that have made it to the Play-offs

UNION BANK, ISLANDERS, DODAN WARRIORS OLUYOLE WARRIORS, have all made it from the Atlantic Conference while for the Savannah Conference we’ve got KANO PILLARS, MARK MENTORS, GOMBE BULLS AND PLATEAU PEAKS.

William Malu in jersey No 9 of Police Baton going for a dunk against Dodan Warriors player during the 2014 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League

Photo Credit: Akinkunmi Farinto

DStv Basketball League, Week 11 results

Kano Pillars unbeaten run snapped by Mark Mentors in Abuja as Union Bank seal playoff berth in the Atlantic conference and Oluyole Warriors blow out Islanders in IBM. Results below

Atlantic Conference

Oluyole Warriors 75-54 Islanders

Do dan Warriors 71-72 Union Bank

Royal Hoopers 66-73 Customs

Police Baton 65-69 Kwara Falcons

Savanna Conference

Plateau Peaks 66-59 Kada Stars

Mark Mentors 76-74 Kano Pillars

Nicer Potters 60-54 Immigration

Femi Adefeso

DStv Basketball League News and Wk 9 Preview

Current DStv Premier League Standings

Atlantic Conference
Pos. Team. Win-Loss Pts
1. Islanders 6-2 14
2. Oluyole Warriors 6-2 14
3. Dodan Warriors 5-3 13
4. Union Bank 5-3 13
5. Kwara Falcons 3-5 11
6. Customs 3-5 11
7. Police Baton 2-6 10
8. Royal Hoopers 2-6 10

Savannah Conference
Pos. Team. Win-Loss Pts
1. Kano Pillars 8-0 16
2. Mark Mentors 6-2 14
3. Gombe 6-2 14
4. Plateau Peaks 4-4 12
5. Immigration 3-5 11
6. Kada Stars 2-6 10
7. Bauchi Nets 2-6 10
8. Niger Potters 1-7 9

Atlantic Conference Week 10 Preview.
8/4/2014
Dodan Warriors Vs Oluyole Warriors – 2pm: Lagos

Some call it the “Warriors Derby” others call it the “Battle of Warlords”
Dodan Warriors will be hoping to revenged their week 3 five points loss to Oluyole in Ibadan when they come visiting this week. Both teams are neck on neck, its 2nd against 3rd. And 1 point seperate them. With Pride & bragging rights and at stake, who wins?

Royal Hoopers Vs Lagos Islanders – 4pm : Port Harcourt
The high flying Islanders were brought down to earth in the last round of matches before the All-Star break by city rivals Union Bank. This week they face a tough road trip to ailing Royal Hoopers who are itching to get out of relegation waters. Playing at home, will they have the island to set anchor or will they continue to sink?

Police Batons Vs Union Bank -4pm : Lagos
Troubled both on &off the court, Police Baton will be welcoming in-form Union Bank who seem to have gotten their mojo back. Can the Batons halt the Stallions or will Union Bank get her 3rd successive for the first time this season?

Customs Vs Kwara Falcons -6pm: Lagos
Falcons looked like they were flying into playoff contention on their 1st time of asking before been shut down by Dodan Warriors in the last round of matches before the All-Star break. They took the scalp of the Customs earlier this season. And perhaps a chance to do a double on the paramilitary boy who are on a 3 game losing skid.

Savannah Conference Week 9 Preview.
8/4/2014

Mark Mentors Vs Plateau Peaks -4pm :Abuja
Mark Mentors surprising fell to their 2nd defeat of the season to new campaigners Gombe Bulls in the last round of matches before the All-Star break and surely will want to get back to winning ways in front of the home fans when the Peaks from Plateau come visiting after securing for the 1st time since their successive wins in Week 1 and 2.

Niger Potters Vs Kada Stars -4pm : Minna
Niger potter will need a win against Kada Stars if they want to port out of the bottom of the conference log. The dim shinning Kada Stars got their 2nd win of the season before the All Star break, one of which was a win against Potters. A win will keep them in 6th position and far away from their fellow relegation strugglers.

Bauchi Nets Vs Kano Pillars – 4pm : Bauchi
The Nets abysmal season continued last week when they lost to Kada Stars, this week is going to be tougher as they host undefeated league champions Kano Pillars. The question on everyone’s lips now is who can stop Kano Pillars? …Definately not looking like the Nets can.

Immigration Vs Gombe Bulls -4pm : Kaduna
Gombe Bulls pulled off an upset in the last round of matches before the All-Star break by defeating 2nd placed Mark Mentors. Next up for the new boys is a visit to Immigration in Kaduna. Will they get the needed victory or will immigration rise to the raging Bulls of Gombe?

Governor Ahmed pledges support for Kwara Falcons.

Kwara State Governor,Abdulfatah has pledged support for the state’s representative in the DStv Premier Basketball League,Kwara Falcons.

He disclosed the state government’s resolve to explore the Public-Private Partnership model to refurbish the Indoor Sports Hall of the Ilorin Stadium and the athletes hostels to give the team a befitting home and camp as well as attract national and international tournaments back to the state.

The Governor stated this while receiving the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation on a courtesy visit in his office.He expressed delight at the team’s recent promotion to the basketball premiership and promised to provide a 32-seated bus and also place the team on a sustainable funding path to enable it honor it’s obligations.

Earlier,the Nigeria Basketball President,Tijjani Umar,who was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development,Prince Saheed,Director of Sports,Tunde Kazeem and Basketball Board Member, Agboola Pinheiro,appealed to the Governor to invest in grassroots basketball development in the state to ensure the future of the sport in the state and thanked the government for it’s lofty Plans for the resuscitation of sports and sports tourism in Kwara.

Femi Adefeso

Photo Credit: Akinkunmi Farinto

NBBF names 24 All Star players

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, has released a list of 24 players and six officials from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences of the Dstv Premier League for this weekend’s All Stars game scheduled for the University of Lagos indoor hall in Akoka, Lagos.

According to the NBBF/DStv League Director, Agboola Pinheiro, 12 players and three officials each were selected from the two conferences for the game holding in Lagos on Saturday with Kano Pillars and Mark Mentors dominating the Savannah Conference list.

“The Savannah Conference will be handled by coaches Peter Ahmedu (Mark Mentors) and Abdulrahaman Mohammed(Gombe Bulls) with former international, Lawal Garba as Team Manager while Coaches Adeboye Aderiboye (Oluyole Warriors) and Chris Nomingo (Dodan Warriors) will handle the Atlantic Conference team with former international, Deji Jaiyeola as Team Manager,” Pinheiro disclosed in Lagos.

Coach Sani Ahmed of Kano Pillars is Head coach of the Savannah All Stars team but has some family commitments while Head coach of the Atlantic Conference, Lati Erinfolami of Islanders, who is also coach of First Deep Water Basketball team will be leading his team to Ilorin for the second phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s League.

Players picked from the Savannah Conference are Abubakar Usman, Dele Ademola, Mathew Monya, Onyeka Okeke and Adeolu Ojoh from Kano Pillars, Stanley Gumut, Abdul Yahaya, Akpara Akiti and Timothy Kwor from Mark Mentors, Chibuzor John, Plateau Peaks, John Mathais and Joseli Ibrahim from Gombe Bulls.

The Atlantic Conference players are Chiwendu Nwaigbo and Ibrahim Okpe from Islanders, Obum Onyia, William Ndouba, Solomon Ajebeyi and Boniface Synesius from Union Bank, Azouma Dike and Mamadou Savadogo from Dodan Warriors, Lanre Alimi, Kwara Falcons, Emmanuel Balogun, Customs and Femi Adekanye, Oluyole Warriors.

NBBF embarks on community service, visits Old Peoples’ Home, fines Potters

As part of giving back to its immediate community, the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, will on Friday embark on its Community Outreach Programme with a visit to future players of the game and the less privileged in the society.

According to the president of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar, the day’s programme will begin at 10.30 am with a visit to the current champions of the National Secondary Schools Basketball Championships, the International School, Lagos at Akoka where the students will be given career talks and other motivational addresses.

Speaking through Olumide Oyedeji, Board member and member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the All Stars Game, Umar said the NBBF team which will include some members of the All Stars team will take the students on some basketball skills as well as allow a question and answer session with them.

“The president and I will take the students on career talks and motivational interface. I will particularly talk to them about myself, how basketball took me from nowhere to where I am today while allowing them time for questions and answers,”he said.

Olumide who is the co-captain of the senior men’s national team said the Community Outreach programme will also take the NBBF team to the Old People’s Home in Yaba where “we will be having lunch with them and then present some gift items to them thereafter.”

The programme will be rounded off at the National Stadium in Surulere later in the day.

Niger Potters fined, warned over abandoned match

For failing to honour its Week 7 game against Gombe Bulls in Gombe on April 18, 2014, Niger Potters Basketball Club of Minna have been fined N60,000 while the match is awarded to Gombe Bulls with a warning that such should not repeat itself in their own interest.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF stated in a letter to the club that the fine is to cover the money expended on the match officials who were on ground for the aborted match.

In acknowledging the response of Niger Potters to the federation’s query on the aborted game, the NBBF noted that while it appreciates the club’s dire financial condition as explained, “it will no longer be acceptable as a reason for not honouring matches in the future (as) we will apply the maximum penalty of relegation if this happens again.”

It would be recalled that Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt suffered the same fate after they failed to show up for the season’s opener against Dodan Warriors in Lagos on March 7, 2014 and were subsequently walked over by the Lagos side.

Femi Adefeso