Continental Basketball League: 2017 success will spur bigger competitions — Udezue
NAN-S-8
Basketball (Wrap up)
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
June 7, 2017 (NAN) Ugo Udezue, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Continental Basketball League (CBL), has assured fans that the success of the just-concluded championship, tagged “May Madness’’ would activate bigger competitions in the future.
“We are happy about the success of this year’s competition, the support we had from the Lagos Sports Commission and the numerous fans that trooped to watch the matches was massive.
“We had a wonderful time as we presented basketball in the beauty of class as organised by Nigeria for Nigerians, and most importantly for youths to showcase themselves in the most suitable conditions.
“We couldn’t have achieved this year’s maiden edition without the support of our numerous sponsors that keyed into our objective of delivering quality sports entertainment, for this we are eternally grateful.
“We count it all joy as we look forward to a bigger package in the next edition,’’ he said.
Udezue, who relished the memories of the competition, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that “basketball will never be the same again after our input’’.
NAN reports that no fewer than six clubs participated in the event that held from May 12 to June 4 in which Lagos City Stars emerged champions.
The competition, held to celebrate “Lagos at 50’’, took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, with a stopover in Yaoundé, where Cameroonians teams also participated.
The championship featured, Lagos City stars, Lagos Warriors, Eko Kings from Nigeria going against international teams — Yaounde Giants of Cameroon, Abidjan Raiders of Cote D’ Ivoire and Libreville Izobe Dragons from Gabon.
In the final match, City Stars who were the underdogs and had managed only one win out of the five matches they played in the preliminary stages, shocked fans as they overwhelmed Abidjan Raiders of Cote D’Ivoire 73-59 to claim the trophy.
To get to the final, City stars had to overcome hard fighting Eko Kings by tapping into their inner reserves to beat the tournament’s favourites, Eko Kings, 82-73 in a thrilling semi-final encounter.
Prior to the playoffs, bookmakers had picked Eko Kings as the overwhelming favourites due to their power play and solid team work that earned them five wins out of five.
The Abidgan Raiders had beaten Yaounde Giants 72-65 to reach the final as well.
U.S. international Mayes Jordin, while featuring for Lagos City Stars went home with the competitions Most Valuable Player Award.
Jordin and many other internationals graced this year’s edition, enhancing the profile of the tournament.
He told NAN that he was happy to come to Nigeria and be a part of history, adding that he would always come for the subsequent CBL competitions.
“I am so happy to be here, it is a wonderful event considering the way we came from the least expected team to win the trophy.
“It was born out of hard work and togetherness and most importantly, we kept pushing ourselves to achieve what had seemed impossible.
“Winning the three points shot contest and the MVP award in CBL has brought joy to me.
“The championship is good and I believe African players can learn from the more experienced players by competing in the tournament,’’ Jordin said.
Apart from Jordin, such incredible stars as Nigerian-American Olatunji Olalekan, ensured the Lagos City Stars did not give the Abidjan Raiders any respite in all the quarters of the game.
Lagos City Stars Coach, Godwin Owinje, said that the players’ steadfastness throughout the tournament was instrumental to the victory.
“The players were eager to win the tournament against all odds. At the beginning it seemed difficult but we gave it all the best.
“The tournament has opened doors for Nigerian basketball stars to learn from their counterparts from America and other parts of the world,’’ he said.
The Abidjan Raiders U.S stars, Pohohoolou Asselain and Harrison Demone, could do little to affect the outcome of the game as they had to succumb to the organised play of the City stars.
Demone told NAN that the competition had brought out the best of the contesting teams and applauded City Stars for raising their game to win the trophy.
“I am pleased with the outcome of the championship though tough for us as a team because we lost in the finals, but it was a wonderful competition.
“It had the right energy and the right feelings attached to each and every game, I will definitely love to be back next year,’’ Demone said.
Awards were given to notable basketball administrators, coaches and players, including star musician, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as “Sound Sultan’’, who is among the management of Lagos City Stars Basketball Club. (NAN)
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(Editing by Emmanuel Okara/Peter Ejiofor)