Incredible Sports Network - INSPN

23/11/2015

NBBF lauds AdaMark Foundation For 3X3 Hoops For Girls

Following the Successful conclusion of the AdaMark Foundation 3X3 Hoops For Girls Championship in Abuja, the Nigerian Basketball Federation has showered encomiums on the organiser, AdaMark Foundation For Girls for putting together the inaugural 3X3 Basketball format competition in country at the package B of the Abuja National Stadium.
The 3x3 tournament which comprised of 3 females and 1 male on each team had Team Hawks go home with the N200,000 cash prize winners after they defeated the Abuja All Stars who took home a cash prize of N100,000 as losing finalist. For coming third, Team One Win Academy got N75,000 while Titan Basketball Academy despite finishing 4th got N50,000 for their exploits.

Speaking after Final match, the NBBF President, Mr. Tijjani Umar said the Federation will support individuals like AdaMark Ogbole, CEO AdaMark Foundation For Girls who have initiatives to take Nigerian Basketball the next level.

'We as a Federation have shown that we are open to accommodating any meaningful programmes that add value to basketball in the country, that is why we are here and we are ready to support and encourage more individuals to come forth and add whatever value they feel they can add to the growth of the Game'

' What we have seen today is a landmark event because this is the first official 3X3 event in Nigeria particularly for Girls. AdaMark Foundation for Girls, have extended their level of purpose and drive because we are very accustomed to their Basketball Camp for girls, but this time She has expanded from just a camp to a competition to engage women and give them a level playing field to compete against each other and the guys also. ' He added

The CEO of the AdaMark Foundation For Girls, Mrs AdaMark Ogbole said it is she was elated by the turn out and was motivated to set up the competition due to the lack of opportunity for Girls express themselves in a competitive environment.

' First and formost the 3X3 basketball format is a rising trend in basketball across the world and the Women folk often times get little opportunity to express themselves, that is why I decided we play the No Barriers 3X3 basketball championship for Women. Although so they don't say we are driving gender inequality we decided to tweak it with 1 male in each team of 4 Girls'.

AdaMark Ogbole, wife of FIBA Statistician, Obande Ogbole promised not to get tired even though the tournament was sponsored solely by her foundation, and hoped to expand the tournament and run it for many years to come.

'This is just the beginning for us, though it is never easy to be a sole sponsor, we hope to get partners on board to drive this tournament to make it bigger next year and our for Girls empowerment because, I believe we (females) can achieve equal feat with the men folk, if we are given the opportunity and the needed support'.

02/11/2015

14/08/2015

IT'S KANO PILLARS AND MARK MENTORS IN THE DSTV PBL FINAL 8 PLAYOFFS AGAIN
by ONICHA AZUBUIKE ()
Mark Mentors will now have a chance to go on a revenge mission on Friday when they take on Kano Pillars having both knocked out Union Bank and Gombe Bulls respectively.
Peter Ahmedu's (MARK MENTORS) men took a stroll over Ayinla Johnson's (who is on national duties) team as they led from start to finish in a blow out victory.
MARK MENTORS 68-53 UNION BANK.
Mentors captain, Stanley Gumut was the stand out man, scoring 22 points 4 rebounds and 3 assists as he looks to wrestle the MVP from Pillar's Abubakar Usman.
Abdul Yahaya, the man called the Nigerian Kevin Durant, had a good game, averaging 50% shooting from both 2&3 points shooting with a total of 14 points and 14 rebounds, becoming the only man to do a double double on the night.
For Union Bank, Emeka Ajaegbu was d only Man to reach double figures with 10 points as former Oluyole point guard, once again, showed why he should be the next big thing with some impressive 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 points.
KANO PILLARS 67 - 63 GOMBE BULLS
In one of the most keenly contested finals over the years, Pillars escaped with the skin of there teeth managing a 4 point victory over a rejuvenated Gombe Bulls who left the court feeling sober with some in tears as their dreams of breaking the duopoly in the league were dashed in the final stages of the 4th quarter.
The bulls at least will be drawing some positives from this having lost to both mentors and the defending champions with just 6 points, put together. Their bigger plus has to be the massive contribution from hugely improved point guard Gar Kator who just in his sophomore year, carried the team as he gave some eye catching displays that made him the fans favorite, averaging 11 points 2 rebounds and 2 assists each.
Speaking to him in a post game Interview, Kator who had a cameo last season, sitting almost on the bench for the entirety of the playoffs at that time, said it's hard to accept the loss but promised that along with his team, he will sure be a better player and try to get to the final.

VERDICT FOR TODAY'S FINAL
I THINK MARK MENTORS WILL WIN IF THEY CAN REDUCE THE SCORING FROM ABUBAKAR USMAN AND MAKE SURE AZUOMA D**E, STANLEY GUMUT AND THE MAN WHO COST THEM LAST SEASON'S TROPHY, ABDUL YAHAYA ARE NEAR PERFECT FROM START TO FINISH.
FOR SANI AHMED, HE WILL BE BANKING ON HIS TEAM'S EXPERIENCE WITH ABU, MATHEW OMONYA AND HOPE THAT POINT GUARD ADEOLU CAN FOR ONCE STEP UP THE PLATE FOR ONCE IN THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFF.

12/08/2015

12/08/2015

8 MAN ISLANDERS GET 1ST WIN AS KANO PILLARS AND MARK MENTORS NEAR SEMI FINAL QUALIFICATION.

by ONICHA AZIBUIKE

ATLANTIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS, LAGOS ISLANDERS, ON TUESDAY GOT THERE FIRST WIN OF THE DSTV PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE FINAL 8 PLAYOFFS (all thanks to coach LATI ERINFOLAMI and his tactical and technical brilliance) AS THEY CAME BACK STRONGLY TO DEFEAT NIGERIA CUSTOMS 65-56 IN A DAY 2 GROUP A GAME AT THE INDOOR SPORTS HALL OF THE NATIONAL STADIUM, SURULERE, LAGOS.

THE BEST OF SIX CHAMPIONS ALSO HAD THE THREE BEST SCORERS IN THE GAME WITH HILARY AIGBOKHODE COMING OUT TOPS WITH 15 POINTS, COMBINING WITH EX-UNION BANKER WILLIAM NDOUBE (14) AND VETERAN OLATUNJI AWOJOBI (11) FOR SOME PRECIOUS 40 POINTS
FOR THE CUSTOMS, CHRISTOPHER BASSEY WAS THEIR TOP SCORER WITH 10 POINTS, BUT ALL EYES WERE ON YOUNG POINT GUARD ANDREW AUSTINE WHO GAVE SOME EYE CATCHING DISPLAYS WHICH COULD LEAVE THE ISLANDERS WITH SOME REGRETS FOR LETTING HIM GO AS HE GOT 6 POINTS,4 REBOUNDS AND 2 ASSISTS.

IN OTHER GAMES, MARK MENTORS GOT THEIR SECOND VICTORY AS THEY ESCAPED NARROWLY WITH A 63- 61 DEFEAT OF GOMBE BULLS. HAVING SIGNED KANO PILLARS' ANYEBE UJOH , THEN MAMADOU SAVADOGO AND FORMER MVP AZUOMA D**E (SCORED 14 PTS & 7 REBOUNDS) FROM DODAN WARRIORS, ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT TO BE AN EASY RIDE BUT REVERSE WAS THE CASE.

KANO PILLARS HAD SOMEWHAT OF AN EASY RIDE OVER KADA STARS IN AN 80 - 62 BLOWOUT VICTORY AS THEY WELCOMED BACK TALISMAN AND LAST SEASON'S MVP, ABUBAKAR USMAN.

UNION BANK AND DODAN WARRIORS TREATED FANS WITH THE MOST ENTERTAINING, DRAMATIC AND HYPERTENSIVE GAME OF THE DAY WITH THE FORMER CARRYING THE DAY WITH A 63-57 WIN. THE GAME ALSO UNVEILED A NEW 3 POINT PROSPECT, EMEKA AJAEGBU WHO HAD A 4/7 57 PERCENT SHOOTING FROM OUTSIDE THE ARC, TOTALLING 16 POINTS, AS FORMER OLUYOLE WARRIORS WHIZ KID, KAYODE BALOGUN DID ALL THE MAGIC YOU CAN GET FROM AN NBA POINT GUARD WITH 8 ASSISTS TO HIS NAME. NOW THAT ROMARIC QUENUM'S 18 POINTS COULD NOT HELP THEM WIN A GAME, CHRIS NOMINGO AND HIS YOUNG WARRIORS HAVE TO BEAT KANO PILLARS TO GET A SEMI FINAL TICKET.

WEDNESDAY'S GAMES WHICH SERVES AS A DECIDER FOR QUALIFICATIONS HAS GOT SOME MOUTH WATERING FIXTURES IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

KANO PILLARS VS DODAN WARRIORS
UNION BANK VS KADA STARS
MARK MENTORS VS NIGERIA CUSTOMS
LAGOS ISLANDERS VS GOMBE BULLS

02/07/2015

PRESS STATEMENT

WILL VOIGT IS NIGERIA’S AFROBASKET COACH.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has selected William B. Voigt ahead of others to lead its campaign at the 2015 Aftobasket Men’s Tournament in Tunisia. Coach Voigt was the Head Coach/General Manager of the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League from August 2009 to July 2014 during which period he won more games than any other Coach in the D-League and helped his team to be regular Season Champions in 2012-2013.

Coach Voigt was offered a short term contract until September to win the Afrobasket and qualify Nigeria for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. If he succeeds, he will be the Coach to lead the team to the Olympics. He is to be assisted by a team of Assistant Coaches and Video analyst. Coaches Ayinla Johnson and Abdulrahaman Mohammed as well as the team doctor and physiotherapist will keep their positions from the 2013 coaching staff.

The new Coach will not be new to the National team and Nigerian Basketball environment as he has previously coached two of the team’s standouts, Alade Aminu and Ike Diogu in the NBA D-League and has also volunteered in Summer Basketball Camps organised by Masai Ujiri in Zaria and Lagos between 2004 and 2008.
The National team training camp is expected to open in Abuja on 15th July with both home and foreign based players.

Patrick Omorodion

Head, NBBF Media.

2nd July, 2015

21/05/2015

DStv Premier Basketball League All Star Showdown on Friday

OLUWAFEMI ADEFESO

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.

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 D**e ( 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).

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 D**e ( 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.

03/05/2015

Asaba, Ilorin Tussle for Zenith League Phase 2 hosting rights…

OLUWAFEMI ADEFESO

The technical committee in the board meeting on Sunday also placed before the board the bids from Kwara State and Delta State for hosting rights for the 2nd phase of the 2015 Zenith Bank Women Basketball League.

With the ancient city of Ilorin hosting the last 2 editions of the 2nd phase of the Zenith Bank female league, the city longs to host the national women's Premier basketball event for the 3rd straight year.

However, there 2015 hosting rights faces tough opposition from one of the strongholds of female basketball in Nigeria, Asaba, Delta state. Asaba, perennial hosts of the 2nd phase in the early years of the Zenith league long to get back the rights, having missed out in the last two editions and cities of Akure and Kaduna also playing host of the 2nd phase in times past.

The board will announce the host for the 2nd phase as soon as the 1st phase is over following a close look at the fulfilment of the criteria set by the technical committee for both cities to win the hosting rights for the Zenith Bank Female Basketball league

03/05/2015

NBBF Throws D'Tigers Coach job open.

By OLUWAFEMI ADEFESO

The Nigeria Basketball Federation ( NBBF ) after the board meeting on Sunday stated that the coaching job of the National men's team open for application.

The board unanimously agreed to this decision after due consultation with the technical committee to open the door to any coach interested to lead the D'Tigers to the defense of their All African Games title and the 2015 FIBA Africa Basketball championship in Tunisia.

The coaches interested in job are to submit there application to the Nigerian Basketball Federation secretariat and the best candidate will be selected after interviews have been conducted.

According to the President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, Mr Tijjani Umar, the national team gaffer selection will be based on merit as the team hopes to make a return to the Olympics in Rio 2016 by coming tops at the 2015 Afrobasket in Tunisia, having made their debut at the Olympics in London 2012 via the Olympic Qualifying event in Venezuela.
..National Teams to Camp in Nigeria

The NBBF President also revealed after the meeting that the Men's and women's national team will camp in Nigeria ahead of the All Africa Games and the 2015 Afrobasket for men and women.

Mr Umar stated that the teams will be camped in Abuja ahead of their continental showpiece,so as to bring a level playing field for both the foreign and home based players to compete for a place on the team and also practise in the African atmosphere ahead of the tournaments.

The NBBF President also disclosed that a two man task force including himself and the Vice President of the federation, who doubles as the chairman of the Technical committee, Mr Muktar Khaleh will travel to the US to interface with the US based players and organise friendlies and prospective training tour hosts ahead of the competitions. He said:

" We already have friendly matches and pre tournament competitions mapped out in Europe and in China but we will also plan have a training tour in the United States even though we will camp in Abuja".

The task force will leave for the United States as soon as the Women's qualification tournament in Abidjan on May 30th". He added.

The national basketball team has always had his camping in the US in the last decade or so and it's about time the players wherever they are based come to the country and give the fans an opportunity to get to know and interact with them.

The resumption date for the D'Tigers will be announced in due course having already qualified for the Afrobasket and All African Games while the D'Tigress (the female national team) will resume camp this week as they prepare to battle for qualification to the continental showpieces from the 26th to 30th of May against the likes of Cote d'ivoire, Ghana and Liberia in Abidjan. The invited players and coaches of the female national camp will be announced after the conclusion of the 1st Phase of Zenith Bank Female Basketball League.

26/04/2015

ZenithBank League: Akashili Shines For First Bank, As Currency’s 35 Points lift Dolphins
BY OLUWAFEMI ADEFESO

Akashili Shines For First Bank, As Currency’s 35 Points lift Dolphins Former 4-time most valuable player of the Zenith Bank female Basketball League Nkechi Akashili showed her MVP credentials as she helped defending champions First Bank basketball club start their title defence in style with scoring 27 points in the elephant girls emphatic defeat of Plateau Peaks 91-36 The former First Deepwater star shot an impressive 100% from the 3points range (5/5) adding 5 of 8 shots from the field in the win. While Atosu Upe and Chidinma Nwakama joined Akashili as the only First Bank players to score double figures addeing 13 points and 10 points respectively. Last season’s runner up Dolphin Basketball Club also gave a top class performance in an interesting opening day, as sharp shooting guard Juliet Currency knocked down 35 points and adding 10 rebounds as Dolphins drubbed the Inspector General of Police (I.G.P) Queens 89-47 to run up as leaders in Group B. Former champions First Deepwater shook off a slow start to defeat Kaduna based AHIP Queens 60-33, while debutants Zamfara Babes got their zenith bank female league campaign to a winning start as they came from behind to defeat Coalcity Queens 40-39. In other results, Delta Force forced their way past GT200 79-25, while Oluyole Babes and FCT Angels defeated Immigration and Nasarawa Amazons 42-30 and 63-57 respectively. Action continues on Sunday at the National Stadium in Abuja as Benue princess takes on oluyole Babes, while the Taraba Hurricanes looks to sweep the Plateau Rocks and Zamfara babes face GT200 in a bid to continue their fairytale run in the league. In the battle for supremacy, FCT Queens and Coalcity Queens lock horns while AHIP Queens continue their quest for victory against Sunshine Angels of Akure. Delta Force look to scramble the Dolphins. As Immigration takes on defending champions First Bank and IGP Queens face Custom in the para-military derby.

25/04/2015

DStv Premier Basketball League WEEK 4 RESULTS

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

14/04/2015

Zenith women League To Resume in April.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation has announced April 23rd as the jumpball for the first phase of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League season .The new date is sequel to the conclusion of the general elections which necessitated the postponement of the Women’s League in the first place.

The championship traditional first phase which will take place at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium Package ‘B’ Abuja will see the likes of Customs, FCT Queens, Benue Princess, Plateau Rocks, Delta Force, AHIP Queens, Coal City Queens, Oluyole Babes, GT-2000, Immigration, IGP Queens and Taraba Hurricanes wrestle power houses Sunshine Angels, First Deepwater, Dolphins and defending champions First Bank for the 2015 title.

The teams are expected to arrive Abuja on Thursday, 23rd, ahead of the technical meeting on the 24th of April as action is set to resume on Saturday, 25th April till May 4th.

FEMI ADEFESO