NAN-S-10
Basketball
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos, April 27, 2017 (NAN) Following five months of action parked matches in the Youth Alive Basketball League in Lagos, the competition is set to round off its regular season proceedings on May 1.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition which began in January had youths competing for honours in the U-19, U-16 and U-16 boys and girls categories.
The programme’s Coordinator, Gbade Olatona, told NAN on Thursday in Lagos that the competition had recorded tremendous success as many talents that abound had been discovered.
“Once again, we have reached the conclusion of another super season where a lot of youths proved their knowledge in basketball; as such we know we are proud of the success so far.
“We will continue to strive for excellence and produce young talents through the academies in Lagos that readily avail players to replace the ageing ones in the national teams and the league clubs.
“As the regular season rounds up, we go into the play-offs where the best teams that qualified to play in the age categories will challenge each other for the championships’ trophies,’’ Olatona said.
The co-ordinator also said that the challenge faced in organising the 2017 season was a daunting task.
“We had so many issues in achieving our set objectives, and at a point, we were almost forced to quit the season’s games.
“We were not able to lay our hands on funds to organise games as the sponsors that promised to come to our rescue let us down.
“However, we had to tax ourselves and were also fortunate to have referees and table officials who were willing to do their work even when we could not pay them,’’ Olatona said.
He added that with the regular season about to end the play-offs is set to hold when all logistics has been put in place.
NAN reports that for the final round matches, Topfield Academy will engage Strongtowers Academy, Deepbond will engage Rangers Academy as Discover play Royal Tigers in the U-19 boys’ category.
Discover play Flames, Topfield engages River Dragons, while Bobcats play Royal tigers in the U-16 categories at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Yaba, as part of the matches to end the season.
NAN reports that the regular season matches held on Saturdays and Sundays at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Yaba and the Ilupeju Sports Centre, Oshodi.
The competition now in its eighth edition is put together by Deepbond Sports Initiative and backed by the Lagos State Basketball Association (LSBBA).
It is proudly supported by Honeywell Floor Mills Nig. Plc. (NAN)
BAO/AAB/PDE
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(Edited By Adeboye Ajayi/Peter Ejiofor)