NBBF CONGRATULATE MASAI UJIRI

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF has sent a congratulatory message to former Nigeria International, Masai Ujiri over his recent appointmen as General Manager of Denver Nuggets Basketball club National Basketball Association (NBA) side.

NBBF President, Tijjani Umar who convey the goodwill message to the former Assistant General Manger of Toronto Raptors recently sign with the Nuggets as its new G.M.

The Nigeria basketball boss says Ujiri elevation is a clear testimony of his good work and a boost for Nigeria basketball.

The federation urge Ujiri to remain steadfast with his good deed in helping to reshape the game in Nigeria in particular and the world in general.

On behalf of the Nigeria Basketball federation and the Nigeria basketball community both at home and in the disaspora, I want to salute and congratulate Masai Ujiri on his new appointment as the General Manager of NBA side, The Denver Nuggets.

Masai has demonstarted that hard work pays and little wonder he is reaping the fruit of his labour, Masai has played significant role in helping to reshape Nigeria basketball, he has played such role as player, coach and adviser.

We are greatly delighted that a Nigerian is holding such key position with an NBA side and we beleive his elevation will open the door for others like him and for Nigeria basketball as we match towards making Nigeria basketball the best in Africa and one of the best in the world.

The NBBF president is leading a delegation to Turkey to attend the FIBA World Congress, the delegation whcih includes the First Vice-President of the federation, Muktar Adamu Khaleh and the federation Secretary General, Francis will have a meeting with the new Denver General Manager, Ujiri who will also be in turkey to watch the FIBA World Championship.

Among Ujiri contribution to the development of basketball in Nigeria is the annual camps he co-organised alongside Godwin Onwinje includes the Giants of Africa Camp and the Top-50 camp.

Ujiri was a member of the Nigeria senior national team, DTigers that qualifies Nigeria for her first FIBA World Championship in Greece in 1998, he also serve as Assistant Coach of the U18 and U19 Junior national team in 2006 FIBA Africa Championship for U18 Men in South Africa and the FIBA World Championship for U19 Men in Serbia and Assistant to Coach John Lucas to the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship for Men in Libya.

DStv PL: Police brighten playoffs chances, beat Islanders 59-42

The Nigeria Police basketball team, The Police Baton basketball club at the weekend brighten its chances of making it to the final-8 playoffs slated for the Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State with a 59-42 points victory over former champion of the Nigeria league, Lagos Islanders basketball club at the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos.

The Coach Mark Balogun tutored Baton humbled Islanders in all departments of the game winning in all four-quarter by 13-08, 15-12, 18-10 and 13-12 with Baton combo-guard Kelvin Dandison leading the floor with 18 points and 3 rebounds.

Dandison teammates, Dapo Peters and Malik Tella added 10 points, 5 rebounds and 10 rebounds respectively to put paid to the ambition of the Islanders.

The victory shot Baton to the third position of the Atlantic conference standing with a game against second placed Union Bank basketball club on Friday in Lagos.

Other regular season games in both conferences of the DStv Premier League, in the Atlantic conference Ebun Comets basketball club and Dodan Warriors basketball club will lock horns on Wednesday in Lagos while run-away conference leader, Royal Hoopers bnasketball club will be at home to Delta Force basketball club at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State while Dodan Warriors basketball club and Lagos Islanders basketball will round-off the conference regular season game on Saturday in Lagos.

in the Savannah conference two teams (Plateau Peaks and Niger Potters) whose final-8 playoffs qualifications depended on the last regular season pairings of the conference, Plateau Peaks will be at home in Kaduna to defending champion, Kano Pillars in a tough duel as the defending champion who are already through to the playoffs will be playing for pride while Niger Potters basketball club of Minna will welcome relegated AHIP Giants basketball club of Kano.

Though the odd to pick the Savannah conference fourth slot favours Potters who will be playing against relegated AHIP in Minna but must have to win convincingly if they want to be part of the Garden City playoffs party.



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