Abubakar Drops 31 Points As Savannah All Stars Win 2015 DStv All Star Game.

-With heavy down pour in Lagos on Saturday, thunder struck twice at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos as the Savannah Conference All Stars won their 2nd straight DStv Premier Basketball league AllStar game, with a flamboyant display of long range shots, Alley hoops and high octane Slam dunks.

Powered by reigning All Star MVP Abubakar Usman’s 31 points off seven, 3 points shot and Kano Pillars team mate Ibrahim Yusuf’s 18 points including 4 from behind the arc, the Savannah conference All Stars put up a shooting clinic on their way to a 102-66 points victory over the Atlantic conference Allstar team.

Despite boasting of the likes of legendary Tunji Awojobi who was limited to just 9points, Ben Uzoh (11points) and William Ndoumbe (9points) all on their roster, the Atlantic conference All Stars were dominated in the 2nd and final quarter (10-26) & (16-30),despite starting with a blast trailing by one (18-19) in the opening quarter and put up a strong fight back after the break in the 3rd (22-27).

Mark Mentors Azuoma Dike who in previous seasons stared for the Atlantic conference team added 9 points from the bench with a perfect 3/3 from behind the arc. Team mates, Stanley Gumut scored 11 points with Center, Victor ‘Koko’Anthony dominant on the boards adding 10 rebounds along with 12 points and 3 blocks to complete the blowout win for the boys from the North.

Tijjani Umar. NBBF President oresents an award after the AllStar game

2014 DStv Allstar game most valuable player Abubakar Usman retained his MVP trophy going home with a DStv Explora decoder for his exploits, while magical Lagos Islander’s forward William Ndoumbe who put up a show in the Slam Dunk Contest took the Slam Dunk King’s crown with style. Mark Mentors Timothy Kwaor shoved off the stiff challenge of team mate Azuoma Dike and Sola Alayande (Lagos Islanders) to retain his 3 point shooting contest trophy which also had a DStv Explora Decoder to go along with.

…Legends Grace the All Star Game

Emmanuel Chagu (late,), Agboola Pinheiro, Godwin Anani ( late), Alabi Adelanwa, Ganiyu Otenigbagbe , Oliver Johnson, and Gen. Joseph Garba, (late)

The fun fair of the Saturday All Star game was taken to the peak as the Nigeria Baketball Federation honoured the men who transformed and made the face of Basketball what we see today. Some of the Legends including Coach Alabi Adelanwa and Ganiyu Otenigbagbe famed to have developed the Dream, Hakeem Olajuwon before he went on to dominate the world of basketball.

Coach Agboola Pinheiro who played and coached the national team ( Men, Women and Juniors) and the famous Leventis Buffalos who dominated the Nigerian Basketball scene for many years, Coach Oliver B. Johnson who left the United States of America in 1967 to coach basketball and never went back coaching the likes of Ganiyu Otenigbagbe and Adelanwa on the national team and the maestro behind the dominance of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in the Nigerian University Games up until today.

The likes of Late Maj. Gen Joseph Garba, Coach Godwin Anani and Emmanuel Chagu were also given Posthumous Awards.

Honorees at the all-star day Emmanuel Chagu(late,), Agboola Pinheiro, Godwin Anani( late), Alabi Adelanwa, Ganiyu Otenigbagbe , Oliver Johnson, and Gen. Joseph Garba, (late). Congratulations

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