BASKETBALL LOVERS LOOK FORWARD TO AN EXCITING DSTV BASKETBALL ALL STAR WEEKEND

The annual DStv Basketball All Star Weekend will take place this Saturday, 23 May 2015 at the indoor sports hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. As is the practice, basketball lovers across the country and DStv subscribers will be treated to an exciting blend of live basketball games.

Speaking on the upcoming basketball all-star weekend, Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria said that the decision to hold an All Star Weekend was to mark the mid-point of the basketball season, and also to encourage the growth of the game among Nigerian youth; “It is a way of celebrating the mid-point of a tournament, and re-energizing for the forthcoming games. The game this year will be better and bigger last year’s event” Mabutho said.

Last year’s All Star Weekend Jump off was won by the Savannah team. This year’s All Star Weekend will kick off with DStv All Stars vs. Nigeria Basketball Legends All Stars and will feature notable players from both the Atlantic and Savannah conferences. Benjamin Uzoh, Jason Ebie, Tunji Awojobi and others will represent team Atlantic, while Usman Abubakar, Stanley Gumut, Abdul Yahaya to mention a few will play on behalf of the Savannah teams.

Kelvin Dandinson in jersey No 5 of Police Baton trying to dribble Emeka Ajaegbu in jersey No 5 of Union Bank during the 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Union Bank won by 68-52 points.

Mr. Mabutho highlighted that one of their major focus is sports development. “We know that basketball is a lifestyle sport, which is highly entertaining. It is that excitement that we want to bring to Nigeria. We want basketball to be associated with fun, excitement and family time” he said.

The President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Mr. Umar Tijani while commending MultiChoice Nigeria for the sponsorship and support MultiChoice has given to the Basketball Federation over the years, urged lovers of the game to come out enmass to watch the thrills of the all-star weekend as fans will be excited to watch the 3 point shooting contest finals, slam dunk contest finals and many other side attractions.

Spectators are invited to come and watch the game live as no gate fee is required. The game which will be aired live on SuperSport 7 on DStv will also go live on SuperSport Select 2 on GOtv from 3:00pm.

MultiChoice Nigeria is the headline sponsor of the DStv Premier Basketball League. Sponsorship of basketball by MultiChoice, also involves live coverage of league games by SuperSport, throughout the tournament.

DStv Premier Basketball League All Star Showdown on Friday

Like is done all over the world at the mid point of the basketball season, the DSTV Premier Basketball League will welcome it’s annual Allstar game on Friday 22, May 2015 at the home of Nigerian Basketball, the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos amongst pomp and pageantry with Celebrities, past and present basketball stars, and fans and lovers of basketball.

All eyes will be on former national team captain and Boston University, Hall of famer, Tunji Awojobi who will lead Lagos Islanders team mates Jason Ebie, Ben Uzoh and the Dodan Warriors duo of Benenoir import Romaric Quenum and Ameh Ejeh in the Atlantic Conference All star team as they battle their Savannah Conference counterparts lead by Abubakar Usman in the 2015 DStv Premier Basketball League All Star Game.

Supporting the Atlantic conference starting 5 are Emmanuel Dayo (Oluyole Warriors), Emmanuel Balogun (Customs), Malik Tella (Police Baton), Solomon Ajegbeyi (Union Bank), Umar Garba (Dodan Warriors) and Mojuba Oyeleye (Oluyole Warriors). Who will be coached by the duo of Lagos Islanders head coach Lateef Erinfolami and Oluyole Warriors Taye Sobogun while Mr Deji Jaiyeola and Agboola Pinheiro were selected as Team manager and Coordinator respectively.

Police Baton vs Union Bank At The 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League

The Savannah conference All stars on the other hand will be lead by 2014 All star most valuable player Abubakar Usman(Kano Pillars) teammate Matthew Onmenya and the Mark Mentors trio of Stanley Gumut ,Abdul Yahaya and Victor ‘KOKO’ Anthony. with Azuoma Dike ( Mark Mentors), Femi Emmanuel (Plateau Peaks), Eli Abraham (Gombe Bulls), Menasseh Achi (Gombe Bulls) and the Kano Pillars trio of Ibrahim Yusuf, Abdulwahab Yahaya and Dele Ademola also making the All Star team.

The team would lead by Mark Mentors Head coach, Peter Ahmedu assisted by Gombe Bulls Mohammed Abdulrahman while Mr. Garba Lawal and Ajibarede Bello will act as Team manager and coordinator respectively.

3point Challenge, Slam Dunk Contest make a return….
The All Star weekend is never complete without the Slam Dunk contest and the 3 points shootout challenge. And surely we will be treated to the spectacle of dunks from the best of the best DSTV Premier basketball league high flyers . Expected to compete for the best dunker in the league are Yahaya Abdul ( Mark Mentors), William Ndoumbe ( Lagos Islanders), Menasseh Achi (Gombe Bulls), Dele Ademola (Kano Pillars), Mojuba Oyeleye (Oluyole Warriors) and Usman Musa (Mark Mentors).

Bassey Obeten in jersey No 7 of Nigeria Customs trying to dribble Kwara Falcons players during the 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Nigeria Customs won by 54-50 points.

As we also look forward to the fight for the bragging rights as the best long range shooter in Nigeria, the finest 3 pointer shooters in the league come face to face. Topping the list is 2013, 3 points shooting contest champion former Kada Star shooting guard Timothy Kwaor ( Mark Mentors), Azuoma Dike ( Mark Mentors), Abdulwahab Yakubu (Kano Pillars), Stanley Gumut (Mark Mentors) Dayo Emmanuel (Oluyole Warriors) and Sola Alayande (Lagos Islanders). Others are rookie Stanley Eze (Union Bank), Emmanuel Balogun (Customs) and Jason Ebie (Lagos Islanders).

The veterans and celebrities in the house will also not be left out as they slug it out in the Dstv Premier Basketball League skills challenge. There will also be an exhibition game between Day Waterman College and Avicenna schools as the curtain raiser while the host of the event will be multi award winning entertainer and part owner of Lagos Islanders, Sound Sultan alongside Jimmie of Beat fm.

Kelvin Dandinson in jersey No 5 of Police Baton trying to dribble Emeka Ajaegbu in jersey No 5 of Union Bank during the 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Union Bank won by 68-52 points.

Bassey Obeten in jersey No 7 of Nigeria Customs trying to dribble Kwara Falcons players during the 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Nigeria Customs won by 54-50 points.

Lanre Alimi in jersey No 5 of Kwara Falcons going for a dunk against Nigeria Customs during the 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League held at the Indoor Sports Hall of National Stadium, Surulere. Nigeria Customs won by 54-50 points.

Police Baton vs Union Bank At The 2015 Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League

Oluwafemi Adefeso

DStv Premier Basketball League Results

2015 DStv Premier Basketball League Results

DStv PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Atlantic Conference

Oluyole Warriors 62-86 Lagos Islanders

Customs 54-50 Kwara Falcons

Police Baton 52-68 Union Bank

Dodan Warriors 52-42 Delta Force.

Solomon Igho in jersey No 14 of Lagos Islander blocks off Union Bank player from makes a basket during the 2015 DStv Basketball League

Savannah Conference

Kano Pillars 80-48 Plateau Peaks

Kada Stars 53-49 Immigration

Bauchi Nets 61-85 Gombe Bulls

Mark Mentors 89-58 FCT Rocks

DStv Premier Basketball League

DStv Premier Basketball League

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
Kwara Falcons 58-61 Union Bank
Oluyole Warriors 69-53 Delta Force
Lagos Islanders 69-56 Police Baton
Customs 73-72 D.Warriors

SAVANNAH CONFERENCE
Kano Pillars 94-48 Bauchi Nets
Kada Stars 48-83 Mark Mentors
Plateau Peaks 90-62 FCT Rocks
Immigration 40-47 Gombe Bulls

DStv Premier Basketball League Week 2 Results

DStv PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Wk 2 Results DStv Premier Basketball League

Atlantic Conference

Oluyole Warriors 78-70 Kwara Falcons

Union Bank 54-59 Lagos Islanders

Customs 60-55 Delta Force

Dodan Warriors 61-42 Police Batons

Savannah Conference

Bauchi Nets 45-77 M.Mentors

Kano Pillars 70-64 Gombe Bulls

Peaks 60-52 Immigration

Kada Stars vs FCT Rocks Postponed. (Force Majeure)

Nigeria National Division One Basketball Championship Update

Yesterday witnessed the 5th day of action at the National Division One championship in Abuja. The Dashion Mambas took on the NSCDC defenders in the opening game of the day but fell to might of the Civil Defenders 77-85 points. In the other fixtures of the day, the Osun State Lions narrowly peeped Delta Force by one point 84-83, just as Raptors beat TJoba by one point 57-56.

The Benue Braves quenched the APA flames 65-55, as the FCT Rocks were too strong for the Kano Pyramids and the Hoop and Read basketball club broke down the Base Hawks 60-51.

Today will witness the final round of matches in the league as TJoba take on Delta Force, Hoops and Read face city rivals Raptors of Lagos while the Base Hawks take on the Osun State Lions in the Atlantic conference Division.

In the Savannah conference APA flames face off against the highscoring Kano Pyramids, NSCDC defenders tackle the Benue Braves and the Dashion Mambas try to climb the FCT Rocks as the top teams from both conferences will on Saturday 8th, November battle for the National Division One title.

The two finalist will qualify for Nigeria’s top tier Basketball league, the DSTV Premier Basketball league next season.

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