Basketball in Africa

The Angolan senior males basketball team play against Australia this Thursday morning, as part of the second round of the Diamond Cup's Group A, happening in China.
The African champions will try to get their first victory after being defeated by China on Monday by 74-83.
The Australians defeated China on Wednesday, in the second round game.
The tournament serves for Angola to prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games, scheduled for 08-24 August.

by Olusegun Ikuesan

The twelve players that will represent Nigeria at the FIBA Africa Zone-3 elimination holding in Yamoussoukro, Cote dIvoire have been named by the coaching crew after weeks of screening exercise.

The list of the lucky twelve who will don the country colour in the battle for a place in next year FIBA Africa Championship for Men slated for Libya includes ageless Israeli-based Tunji Awojobi (forward), USA-based Ejike Ugboaja (forward) and stand-in captain Abdulrahman Mohammed (guard) of Nigeria Customs Service basketball club, Nigeria.

Others in the team are Abubakar Usman (guard) Niger Potters basketball club, Nigeria; Daniel Daudu (guard) Union Bank basketball club, Nigeria; Azuoma Dike (guard) Union Bank basketball club, Nigeria; Orseer Ikyaator (guard) Ebun Comets basketball club, Nigeria and Mohammed Bukir (guard) Dodan Warriors basketball club, Nigeria.

Other players who made the list include Stanley Gumut (forward) Plateau Peaks basketball club, Nigeria; Ibrahim Yusuf (forward) Kano Pillars basketball club, Nigeria; Dennis Ebikoro (forward) Ebun Comets basketball club, Nigeria and Boniface Edegie (forward) Yelwa Hawks basketball club, Nigeria.
An inside source within the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF says the present squad are capable of retuning smiles to the faces of teeming supporters of the game
Nigeria will battle for one of the two tickets from the zone against host Cote dIvoire, Togo, Ghana, Benin Republic, Niger, Burkina Faso and Liberia.
Nigeria found herself at this present when she was bundled out of the 2007 edition of the Cup of Nations by Cape Verde at the quarter-final stage with a side that was not prepared to challenge for honours.

The Nigeria senior men national team, DTigers Tuesday defeated Atlantic conference premier league leader, Union Bank basketball club by 72-63 points but gave a sign that the team is yet to blend well.

The banker took the national team to the cleaner in the first two quarters 19-16 and 18-12 with point guard Michael Ohiero of Union Bank basketball club playing one of the best games of his career.

The banker however, succumbed in the third quarter with Dennis Ebikoro, Azuoma Dike, Abubakar Usman combining beautifully and the presence of Tunji Awojobi to lift the national team in the third quarter with a big win of 28-10 points to go into the last quarter with a nine points advantage of 56-47 points.

Ohiero once again led Union Bank basketball club onslaught early in the fourth quarter but allowed the national team some room mid-way into the last quarter thereby ending the fourth quarter with 16 points apiece for a final score-line of 72-63 points.
Awojobi said the game proved a real test for the national team who are preparing for the FIBA Africa Zone-3 elimination billed for Cote dIvoire from august 4 through 10 this year and believed the team would get better with the few practice session left before the team jets out for the zones elimination.
The Nigeria national team captain whose birth day celebration comes up today (Wednesday) at the Union Bank Sports Club in Lagos decried the present situation Nigeria found itself saying it is hard to belief that the country would go through a qualifying stage before it could make to the final round of the biennial continental championship The FIBA Africa Championship.
He implored those saddled with the responsibilities of running the nations basketball to be alive to their responsibility so that the game can move forward.
The team coached by Coaches Ayodele Bakare and Sani Ahmed looks forward to another friendly game before jetting out on Sunday.

Egypt national team got to an impressive start with 2 wins in KAC ( King Abdulla cup).They over comed Morroco with 13 points,final score 78 - 65 ,Tarek Eghanam played a great game scoring 12 points.In the second game Egypt crushed Sayria 90-65.The Egyptian team still have to face the hostes Jordan then face Tunisia team who showed a good performance with 2 wins.The Egyptian team just came back from Taiwan after finishing in the 5th posision in J. williams cup.

from africabasket.com

Angola's ladies basketball team this Wednesday lost against Brazil by 35-75, at Forte São João stadium, in a third round match of the tournament of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP), which is being held in Rio de Janeiro city.

Angola was always behind in the scorecards. In the first quarter they were behind by12-18, in the second 17-30, third 29-52 and 35-73 in the fourth and last quarter.
With this defeat, the second in the competition, Angola complicated the possibility of being amongst the top three places, due to its positioning in the standings table and the next fixtures remaining.
After beating Guinea Bissau by 56-41 in the debut match, and having lost the following two (against Mozambique by 29-70 and Brazil, by 35-73), the Angolan national might only lie in the fourth place, behind Portugal, Brazil and Mozambique and only ahead of Guinea Bissau.
Portugal and Brazil are leading the competition with four points each, followed by Mozambique, who although they have the same two points as Angola, is in the third position due to the advantage in the encounter between them.
The national team will play its last encounter on July 31 against Portugal, in an encounter considered very difficult for the Angolans judging by the opponent's competitive level.

As the date for the FIBA Africa’s Zone 3 draws nearer, Liberias champion NPA Pythons has begun intensive training for the competition.


The team is undergoing some physical fitness programs including long distance jogging.


Speaking to this paper at the weekend, the Head Coach of the team, Matthew Gbarmore, expressed optimism that his team will make a mark at the upcoming competition slated for next month in Nigeria.
He called on the Management of the National Port Authority (NPA) to support the team by underwriting the cost of the teams travel as well as per diems, among others, to ensure the successful participation of the team. He also assured the NPA Management that his players are fit and ready for the club championship and called on fans of the team to support the team financially to enable it team make the trip to Nigeria.
Pythons could not represent the country last year due to the clubs failure to shoulder the travelling expenses of the team which led to the team being fined.

In order to test the readiness of the national team players ahead the August 4 to 10 FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifiers holding in Cote dIvoire the Nigeria national team, DTigers will Tuesday battle Atlantic conference leader of the Nigeria Basketball Federation premier league, Union Bank basketball club of Lagos.
The game against Union Bank is the first test match by the team since it commences training about three weeks ago.
The match billed for 16.00 hours local time is schedule to hold at the sports hall of the Lagos national stadium.
The test-match will afford coaches Ayo Bakare and Sani Ahmed the opportunity to see the level of preparedness of their players and an insight to pick the twelve players that will dorn the country colour for the qualifiers

The first Royal Hoopers Basketball Camp will today in Port Harcourt commence with all the players and officials already on ground for the event that promises to be full of excitement.

Already, the Police Officers Mess, venue of the camp is already beaming with activities as players used Sunday to formalize their registration while foreign and local coaches work out programme for the next three days.

However, fourteen players selected by FIBA and the NBA to represent Nigeria at this years Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa Camp in Johannesburg, South Africa, will be honing their skills at the Royal Hoopers Elite Basketball Camp taking place in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria from July 27 through 30.

The talented youngsters, who will represent the country in future international competitions, have been invited to the Garden City event to sharpen their skills as a dress rehearsal for the 2008 BWB.

Prominent amongst these players are Ayodeji Egbeyemi (Ebun Comets) and Mohammed Bukar (Dodan Warriors) who featured at BWB Africa 2007 and were also members of the Junior National team to the World Junior Men's Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia in 2007.

Others includes, Chidubem Okam (Dodan warriors), Daniel Ochefu (Police Rookies), Yemi Makanjuola (Police Rookies), Onyekachi Ochebo (Estate Whales), Imoh Silas Okon (Chariots), Godwin IKonshul (Cross Rivers), Gift Achuia (Royal Hoopers), Haruna Maitama Sule ( Kano Pillars), Ismaila Dauda (Kano Pillars), Adeolu Ojo ( ABU) and Ayotunde Oyeniyi (Warriors Academy).

Coach Mike Akuboh, who will be at both the Royal Hoopers and BWB Camps says, apart from learning new skills from the coaches and other elite players at the camp, the Port Harcourt event will provide the players a good avenue to prepare well in order to compete very well against their peers from other Africa countries in Johannesburg later in the year.


In a related development, the list of foreign coaches for the Royal Hoopers Basketball camp has increased.

Myke Schol an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount University USA, Schol a regular feature in BWB Africa and in all camps around Africa. He was formerly coach of Johannesburg-based ESPN/ AND-1 basketball club to the 19th African Men's Championship Final Rounds hosted by the Dodan warriors in Lagos in 2006.

Just as Coach Schol has joined the camp, the list of participating players for the camp has increased from the original 50 to 65 with more players still angling to be part of show.

Some of the players attending the camp are Hilary Aigbokhaode (Islanders), Moses Johnson (Royal Hoopers), Seun Olarenwaju (Dodan Warriors), Haruna Maitama Sule (Kano Pillars), Jonathan Odia (Police Bombers), Ediga Ajonye (Royal Hoopers), Ronald Alalibo (Bayelsa Waves), Ayodeji Egbeyemi (Ebun Comets), Anyebe Alexander (Yelwa Hawks), Harry Ezenibe (AHIP) and Johsura Ahmedu of Warriors Academy among others.Ayodeji Egbeyemi (193-G-90)

The national senior male basketball team were beaten this afternoon against China by 74-83, in the first round match of Diamond Cup, ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
China lead the series with two points, while Angola occupy second position.
Group B is led by Argentina that have already defeated Iran by 81-71.
Angola return to the pitch this Thursday to face Australia, but the competition continues with games between Australia and China at 09.pm for series A, and Iran versus Serbia, three hours later for group B.
The tournament is preparation for Beijing Olympic Games, to be organized by China on August 08-24.

ABC tied their finals playoff series against Seven Stars by winning 67 to 52, in the fourth game disputed in the Vava Duarte pavilion in the city of Praia.

With this victory the teams are now tied 2 games a piece, the champion will be decided in the fifth and final game of the Santiago South playoff series.
ABC dominated the game, practically from beginning to the end, since it had the advantage during all four periods. At half time the Nationals champions were leading 32-21.
ABC head coach, Marcos Moreira, guarantees that his team has players with abilities, wiliness, and the heart to keep their title.
The Seven Stars coach, Orlandinho Mascarenhas, said his team took too long to react in game which they couldve came out as champions. He believes that his team is capable of dethroning ABC.

For the third consecutive year Al Shabab wins the AL-Fateh Cup competition to become the second team in Libyan Basketball history to make this achievement after Al Madina Back in 1997,98,99.

The Final game was played in Solaiman Al-Darat arena in Benghazi in front of almost a 3000 Ahli Benghazi supporters who saw their team take the advantage in the first quarter building a 5 point lead ending it 19-14 for them.
the second quarter was close , Ahli Benghazi kept their lead and Al Shabab kept trailing , six points from free throw line from Al Shabab player mohammed Issa decreased the difference to one point , half time ended 35-34 for Ahli Benghazi.
Both teams exchanged the lead in the third quarter for 8 times before Ahli Benghazi took a 6 point lead in the last two minutes of this quarter made the result 54-48.
Ahli Benghazi kept their 6 point lead in the first minutes of the forth quarter ,but a well timed time-out by Al Shabab coach Osama Seddigh let his team to score 9 consecutive points to take the lead and keep it to the end of the game 76-69 and become the Cup champions.
With this game the 2007-2008 season comes to an end in one of the most successful seasons in Libyan Basketball after approving the new league system by the federation, Al Ittihad became the league champions for the 17th time ,Al Shabab the Cup champions for the third time.

As the date for the Zone III basketball Club Champion of the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA) draws nearer, Liberias champion NPA Pythons has begun intensive training for the competition.
The team is undergoing some physical fitness programs including long distance jogging.
Speaking to this paper at the weekend, the Head Coach of the team, Matthew Gbarmore, expressed optimism that his team will make a mark at the upcoming competition slated for next month in Nigeria.
He called on the Management of the National Port Authority (NPA) to support the team by underwriting the cost of the teams travel as well as per diems, among others, to ensure the successful participation of the team. He also assured the NPA Management that his players are fit and ready for the club championship and called on fans of the team to support the team financially to enable it team make the trip to Nigeria.
Pythons could not represent the country last year due to the clubs failure to shoulder the traveling expenses of the team which led to the team being fined.

If Liberia would have financial resources and professional structures in order to build up a strong national-team that competes in international play, things would look bright in terms of foreign-born talent that could compete for the small country on Africa's west coast.
I recently found this article about Austin Freeman (193-G-89), and it proves that this fine young man is indeed of Liberian heritage:
http://www.georgetownvoice.com/2008-02-21/feature/backcourt-backstory-forming-freeman

Besides Austin, there is another young player with roots in Liberia:
Boan Weanquoi (178-G) was born in the States but his father Charles hails from Liberia and Weanquoi would be a possible addition as well.

Now you can add the likes of Boakai Lalugba (200-F-81, agency: Court Side, college: Bucknell), Pele Paelay (193-G-84, agency: Chris Pearson SM, college: Co.Carolina), Sheiku Kabba (188-G-79, college: Providence), Varnie Dennis (202-F-82, agency: Rasmussen Services, college: Cal Poly - SLO), Patrick Flomo (203-F-80, college: Ohio) and Burleigh Porte (203-C) who all expressed their willing to compete for Liberia and you would have a pretty strong team that could emerge as a force in West Africa if not on the continent.

Unfortunately, the financial situation won't let such things happen too soon,maybe never.

See here down the classification of the Ghanaian First Division, also named 'Greater Accra Amateur Basketball League', as of July 16, 2008
pos team record Points
1. Fire Service (f) 3-2 7
2. Police Service 3-1 7
3. CEPS 3-0 6
4. Panthers 2-2 6
5. Reformers 2-1 5
6. Wizards 1-3 5
7. Yotive (f)(f) 2-2 4

8. Hoops 1-1 3
9. Warriors (f) 1-2 3
10. Flames (f) 0-4 3
(f) = forfeited games

from africabasket.com

Islanders basketball club at the weekend succumbs to the superior fire-power of Union Bank basketball club in an Atlantic conference pairing at the sports hall of the Lagos national stadium.
The match which saw the bankers winning in three of the four quarters leaving the Islanders to pick one (18-11, 10-17, 08-05 and 23-16) saw the Islanders players putting every hands and foot wrong upon resumption of play in the third quarter through the fourth after a beautiful display in the second quarter.
The lose to Union Bank basketball club at the weekend was the second in a row has now forced the Ogoh Odaudu tutored side down the conference table as it now occupies the third spot behind Union Bank and Ebun Comets basketball club.

. Potters pip Tapgun Rockets at home 71-64

And in Jos, Plateau State capital the dwindling fortune of Tapgun Rockets basketball club continues unabated as it lost at home to Niger Potters basketball club of Minna.
Potters who penultimate weekend handed down a 110-77 points defeat of Bauchi Net in Minna was too much for the Tapgun players whose campaign in the Nigeria premier league so far has been anything smooth.
While in Kano last Thursday, Adolescent Information & Health Project, AHIP Giant basketball club of Kano narrowly defeated Plateau Peaks basketball club by 52-50 points in what observers described as questionable calls by the referees handling the match especially in the last seconds of the game.


. Bauchi Net land in Lagos for points

Bauchi Net basketball club will Tuesday continue its road trip game to the Atlantic conference of the premier league with a game against Union Bank basketball club at the sports hall of the Lagos national stadium.
The once vibrant Savannah conference team will take to the floor against Nigeria Customs Service basketball club on Wednesday and battle against Ebun Comets basketball club on Thursday.
The team will round off its road game to the Atlantic conference with games against Dodan Warriors and Islanders basketball clubs on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Islanders’ basketball club at the weekend succumbs to the superior fire-power of Union Bank basketball club in an Atlantic conference pairing at the sports hall of the Lagos national stadium.
The match which saw the bankers winning in three of the four quarters leaving the Islanders to pick one (18-11, 10-17, 08-05 and 23-16) saw the Islanders players putting every hands and foot wrong upon resumption of play in the third quarter through the fourth after a beautiful display in the second quarter.

The lose to Union Bank basketball club at the weekend was the second in a row has now forced the Ogoh Odaudu tutored side down the conference table as it now occupies the third spot behind Union Bank and Ebun Comets basketball club.

…. Potters pip Tapgun Rockets at home 71-64

And in Jos, Plateau State capital the dwindling fortune of Tapgun Rockets basketball club continues unabated as it lost at home to Niger Potters basketball club of Minna.
Potters who penultimate weekend handed down a 110-77 points defeat of Bauchi Net in Minna was too much for the Tapgun players whose campaign in the Nigeria premier league so far has been anything smooth.
While in Kano last Thursday, Adolescent Information & Health Project, AHIP Giant basketball club of Kano narrowly defeated Plateau Peaks basketball club by 52-50 points in what observers described as questionable calls by the referees handling the match especially in the last seconds of the game.


…. Bauchi Net land in Lagos for points

Bauchi Net basketball club will Tuesday continue its road trip game to the Atlantic conference of the premier league with a game against Union Bank basketball club at the sports hall of the Lagos national stadium.
The once vibrant Savannah conference team will take to the floor against Nigeria Customs Service basketball club on Wednesday and battle against Ebun Comets basketball club on Thursday.
The team will round off its road game to the Atlantic conference with games against Dodan Warriors and Islanders basketball clubs on Friday and Saturday respectively.

by CAXTON APOLLO

Champions Kenya Commercial Bank Lions confront Lakeside in one of 12 basketball Premier League second leg matches lined up in Nairobi and Mombasa this weekend.

KCB Lions, who opened their second leg fixtures with a narrow 65-60 win over Mike Mureithi’s Java Warriors, head the 10-team table standings with 20 points. The bankers have won all their 10 matches.
In Saturday's tie at the Nyayo National Stadium, coach Francis “Officer’’ Ngunjiri is still optimistic to keep the bankers clean record.

Unpredictable

As usual, Victor Odendo, Tobias Onyango and Yoni Wanambiro will be the bankers’ key men to watch.
Lakeside have only won three matches in Nairobi and Chrispin Abuto will have a huge task of leading his troops to try and end the champions’ unbeaten record.
Sprite Storms, led by Irene Makori and veteran Anjella Luchivya, meet the unpredictable Strathmore University in the women’s tie at 2 pm. Storms failed to honour their crucial match against Eagle Wings and Wings were a warded a 20-0 walk-over. The students are expected to parade Faith Owich and Lynette Mukiri to give Storms a run for their money.
In the men’s Division One league matches, Lomboritz will battle it out with Mennonites in a tie expected to go either while World Hope face off with African Nazarene University.

In Mombasa, hosts Kenya Ports Authority’s men’s and women’s teams will entertain Dynamites and Terrorists of the University of Nairobi.
The dockwomen were embarrassed in Kisumu by hosts Cruisers and Joyce Makungu, Caroline Arato and Faidhya Mohammed will have to work hard to restore the defending champions’ glory.
In the men’s match, Dan Okwiri, Mike Opel, Patrick Kirui and the Odari brothers have the capacity to demolish the Terrorists.

By Sandau Olekasikwa

Dar es Salaam basketball clubs should submit their development reports along with general elections results to the Dar es Salaam Region Basketball Association (DARBA) by August 4, this year.
DARBA`s Public Relations Officer, Michael Maluwe told The Guardian on Sunday that more than 20 basketball clubs are yet to submit their club`s development reports including the list of new leaders as well as financial reports.
``We have directed all our clubs in the region to conduct their general elections and present names of office bearers before the end of this month to enable us compile a general report for our sponsors and the general meeting,`` he said.
He warned that clubs which will not meet the deadline would have their incumbent leadership ignored and penalised.
Maluwe said the reports are needed for the SBL league scheduled to take place in October at the National Indoor stadium.
Some of the clubs which have yet to submit their reports are Savio, Oilers, UDSM Outsider, JKT, Vijana, ABC and Cargo.

by Suleiman Jongo

The Taifa Cup basketball championship will be staged in Dar es Salaam in October, officials have announced.
Tanzania Basketball Federation (TBF) secretary general Lawrence Cheyo made the announcement yesterday, but said sponsorship is yet to be secured.
Cheyo said the federation's executive committee would convene a meeting this weekend to select the host region, dates and tournament fixture.
And despite the sponsorship gap, preparations for the event are underway, he said.
Tanga region hosted the previous tournament won by star-studded Dar es Salaam region teams.
The Dar teams won titles for both men and women.
In a related development, TBF urged all affiliate regional associations to hold general elections before December 31.
Between now and the deadline, the regional associations will elect eligible leaders who will vote in the federation's general elections early next year.

by Pius Ayinor
Lagos

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) is reaching put to the corporate world for assistance as it battles for cash to feature six national teams in continental championships in the remaining part of this year. The Secretary of the Federation Mr. Francis Gbiri told THISDAYSports by the weekend that the Federation is determined to fulfil its entire programme for the year as that is the only way to meet the yearnings of basketball followers in the country - a situation that has forced them to plead with sponsors for help.

"Sports cannot be run with just government funding alone and that is the situation we really face in Nigeria. In the Basketball Federation we do our best to get from the private world to make our events possible. We dearly need the corporate organisations now to make it possible to meet our competitions, especially the international events.

"We have pushed ourselves hard with the Premier League which has been very beneficial to the players, teams and the basketball system in Nigeria. I believe the gains of starting the league can hardly be quantified now. We are very hopeful that donors and interested sponsors for these teams will come up for partnership with the NBBF. These competitions will help in exposing and developing our players especially these young ones. If we truly want to build formidable teams for the future then we must not let these age-grade teams go into oblivion."

The national men's team is set to travel to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire this weekend for the FIBA Africa Zone Three qualifiers to the 2009 African Nations Cup. The players opened training camp since last week in Lagos but are essentially in an open camp due to cash challenges. The Federation is also preparing players for the Under-16 (boys and girls) and the Under-18 (boys and girls).
The NBBF has been running the Premier League since March without any corporate sponsorship.
And as the Premier League continues across the country Niger Potters of Minna have maintained the lead in the Savannah Conference with another win by the weekend. The Potters were in Jos and defeated Tapgun Rockets 71-64 as the play off season draws closer. Potters also won the first leg played in Minna on May 10th.
In Lagos it was also a hard fought win for Union Bank as they defeated Lagos Islanders by 59-49 points at the National Stadium. The Union Bank led through the break with three points and the game continued at a clutch into the last quarter where the Islanders could only score five points. Poor shooting and high turnover rate pushed Union Bank over their rivals.

by Suleiman Jongo

The possibility of Tanzania under 17 basketball team to compete in the inaugural zone five championship that takes off in Kampala on August 10, still hangs in balance.
Basketball Federation of Tanzania (BFT) secretary general Lawrence Cheyo said his body is experiencing shortage of funds to field teams in the tourney.
Cheyo estimated that about Sh20 million is needed to facilitate participation of gender balanced teams.
He also attributed the non-participation to short notice from the organisers.
"It's too short of a notice and we could have assembled the teams if we had enough funds," he said.
However, Cheyo said the federation's executive committee would meet soon to examine the situation.
Countries expected to compete in the event are Kenya, Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Egypt and hosts Uganda.
A refereeing course is expected to be conducted while the tournament is in progress

Power forward, Olímpio Cipriano and centre, Kikas Gomes, secured the win of the Borislav Stankovic inter-continental cup by Angola, after scoring together 35 points in the 68-60 victory over Serbia, for the third round match of the competition taking place in China.
The African champions won the competition in anticipation as the result of today's game between China and Russia taking place Monday, will not touch the first place already grabbed by Angola.

Cipriano who played for 37 minutes and 17 seconds, led the national team with 20 points, while Kikas Gomes scored 15 points in 31:27 of time.

BY JULIUS MBARAGA

The national junior basketball team has regrouped for its final preparation stint ahead of this year’s Africa Zone V U-18 youth basketball championship qualifiers slated for next month in Kampala, Uganda.
The tournament, which runs from August 10-16, will see Rwanda contending with Burundi, Kenya, DR Congo, Seychelles, Djibouti and Egypt among others.
At the end of the tournament, the top team in the round robin show will qualify for the finals due in Cairo, Egypt, in September.
The 16-man team which is being handled by national team coach Vaceslave Kavedzija will now under-go daily training sessions at Amahoro stadium indoor courts during this schools’ holiday.

The last league scores were as follows:
July 9 = CEPS vs. Yotive Yotive forfeit match due to late arrival
July 12 = Fire 30 - Yotive 39 MVP of the game: Fred Yeboah of Yotive
July 12 = Police 32 - Wizards 43
July 16 = Reformers vs. Warriors Warriors forfeit match due to late arrival

The league is now on break, the restart is scheduled for August 2, with Hoops vs Wizards and CEPS vs. Fire

The Angolan senior males national basketball team are starting this Thursday morning their participation in the 2008 edition of the Borislav Stanckovic Cup against Russia, a tournament that takes place in China.
The Angolan squad, who held a 20-day training programme in Spain, will rest on Friday to play again on Saturday against the host team (China), closing their participation on Sunday against Serbia.
In the last edition of the Borislav Stanckovic Cup, which is disputed by the continental champions, Angola finished the competition in the third position.

by Ishola Bashir
Abuja

The Oyo State female team outclassed their Ogun State counterparts at the Western conference finals winning by 25 – 9 points to book a place at the national finals of the 10th Nestle Milo Secondary Schools' Basketball Championship scheduled to hold in Lagos in October this year.
However, the boys' final of the Western conference, which was played under protest, was keenly contested. Osun State won the final by 39 -37 points against Lagos State.
The Yejide Girls Grammar School Ibadan team, who were the defending champions, made a mincemeat of the Ogun State girls from Sango Otta High School, Ijoko-Ota and it was indeed a mismatch as the weeping Ogun girls posed little resistance to the winners.
Boys' winners, St. Marks Commercial High School, Osogbo, were suspected to have fielded mercenaries against their opponents, International School, Lagos.
Lagos State played the final under protest and the organisers are still investigating the incidence. Osun State could be disqualified if the allegations are proved right.
Coordinator of the tournament, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd.) said that the Lagos finals would witness fireworks as the finalists from the conferences had displayed very high standards.
The conference finals began in Kano with the Savanna conference, followed by the Sahara and Central conferences in Bauchi and Ilorin.
The train moved down south to the Equatorial conference in Enugu, the Atlantic conference in Asaba before moving finally to the Western conference just concluded in Ibadan.

Head Coach of the Nigeria senior men national team, Ayo Bakare says the era of minnows in Africa basketball is over and that the country would approach all the FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifying games billed for Cote d’Ivoire with all seriousness.

Speaking ahead of the commencement of training Wednesday, the most achieved coach with the Nigeria national team believed that with proper selection and support from the Nigeria federation the team is capable of picking one of the two ticket from the zone to 2009 25th FIBA Africa Championship for Men slated for Libya.

The Nigeria team opens training Wednesday from 11.00 hours local time at the sports hall of the Lagos National Stadium with all invited players expected to be present.

Nigeria will fight for one of the two tickets of the zone alongside host Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic, Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Ghana and Liberia.

Coach Bakare submission was based on the ground that Nigeria was knocked out of the 24th edition of the Cup of Nations in the quarter-final by less fancied Cape Verde in Angola last year.

Ashraf Lodewyk was a charismatic and talented former Wits University shooting guard who passed away in a car accident outside Cape Town 5 years ago. Before he passed Ashraf Lodewyk was loved and known by all in the South African basketball community before he passed on so early in his life along with his girlfriend. Every year in honour of his memory Wits University hosts this prestigious basketball tournament at Hall 29. This year the tournament started on Friday the 11th of July until Sunday the 13th of July. The tournament was not as well publicized as previous years and because of that not many teams entered. There was only a no-show of spectators throughout.

This year defending champions Wits Alumni, Egoli Magic, Momentum, Wits Rebels, Wits University and Scorpions entered the Mens tournament whilst Wits University, Raptors and Scorpions all competed for a title in the womens competition. Absent from the tourney were teams like UJ, Pretoria University, Pretoria Heat and Vaal who would have added much needed flavor and depth in the quality of ball at the A Lodewyk Memorial.

Although Wits Alumni were the defending champs, Egoli Magic was the favorite heading into the Mens tournament. They had beat Wits Alumni twice before, once in the first half of the LOP league and once at the Slam da Trash festival where they won R5000 in the process. So Wits Alumni had a point to prove and were looking to get revenge while Egoli wanted to prove that the previous victories were no fluke. They even recruited Neo Mothiba who normally plays for Pretoria Heat.

Egoli Magic cruised to the semi-finals in their group after blowing out Wits University by 45 Friday and beating down the Scorpions by 63 on Saturday. Wits Alumni had a tough opener against Wits Rebels who they beat by 5 points in a close game on Friday. They had an easier day in the office on Saturday after cruising past Momentum by 21 points and booking their place in the semis.

In the Womens tourney the Scorpions beat Wits by 6 points on Saturday but went on to lose to the Raptors by 8 later on that day. Wits recovered by beating the Raptors by 9 points and booking a place in the final against the Raptors on Sunday.

In the Semis Wits Alumni Crib-walked all over Wits University in an easy 37 point victory while Egoli dominated Wits Rebels in a 34 point victory. Wits Alumni and Egoli Magic started their game at 2pm on Sunday afternoon after the early morning semi. Wits Alumni got to the venue 10 minutes before tip-off and didnt really get a chance to warm up properly. But when the game started you couldnt really tell as Alumni got out to an early lead. The game was close until the end of the second quarter when Egoli Magic took the lead and never looked back. Egoli killed Alumni off drives from Joseph Mazibuko, Sifiso Ngcobo and by hitting all of their open jumpers. The easily shot over 60% from the field. Alumni on the other hand were not making theirs and also werent aggressive enough on offense. The Alumni D gave Egoli a lot of open looks and points in the paint. The highlight of the game was the defensive collapse which led to Lesego Molebatsi of the Magic getting an open look on the wing, passing up an open shot and deciding to take it strong to the hole where Joe Loo stood trying to take a charge. Lesego used the opportunity to dunk on Joe Loo who is usually the one who dunks on people. Talk about exclamation mark. Alumni just couldnt get back into it after that and went on to lose the game by 16 points. Alumni seems to be a lot weaker and less disciplined and this is why they have never been able to beat Egoli this year. Mboshe Ronunu of Alumni proved this when he earned a technical foul after complaining about a foul call.

After the final most of the players from Wits went to Ashrafs moms house in Maraisburg to have dinner with the Lodewyk family.

Hopefully next year the tournament will be bigger and better. Personally Im looking forward to that cooking again and hopefully winning the tournament for my dear friend Ashie who would have been a Wits Alumni player if he was still alive.

For the second game in a row, the Cameroon Indomitable Lions exceeded all expectations and gave a highly-touted Puerto Rico team all it could handle. Cameroon showed their mettle by playing hard-nose ball. While Puerto Rico had double-digit leads throughout the game, Cameroon kept storming back. Cameroon cut the lead down to 6 points, 65-59, following a three-pointer from 6-2, pg Parfait Bitee, with less than seven minutes left in the game. Minutes later, Harding Nana, 6-8, f, took the ball hard to the rack for a deuce, making the score 65-61. After the team traded baskets, Nana made a jump shot to keep Cameroon close, 70-67 with 1:40 remaining in the game. However, in the end, Puerto Rico had too much offense for Cameroon to overcome. Puerto Rico held on to win in a hard-fought battle, 81-72, to advance to the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Nana had another monster outing for Cameroon, tallying a total of 22 points. Bitee had an exceptional game as well; scoring 17 points (four 3-pointers), 2 assists and 2 steals. 6-8 pf Brice Vounang had a solid game as well, scoring 10 pts. Finally, 6-11, c Ruben Boumtje Boumtje was Lord of the Boards, with 8 rebounds, a follow-up to his 10 rebound total in the previous game against Croatia.

6-11 c Ricardo Sanchez (17 pts) and NBA 6-2 pg Carlos Arroyo (16 pts) led a balanced Puerto Rico attack that saw five of its players scoring in double digits for the game.

With this second loss, Cameroon bows out of the tournament in Athens. But the team should be extremely proud of what they have accomplished. Cameroon should be proud of what these fine men had done for their country. Putting this in proper perspective, what the Indomitable Lions had done in Athens, burdened by inferior all-around support from home, is truly awe-inspiring. And despite all these difficulties, they played both Croatia and Puerto Rico tough. A lot of credit goes to these men, for the sacrifices they made this week. A lot of credit also goes to their great leader, Coach Lazare Adingono, who also had to work hard under extreme levels of stress, being able to keep the team motivated and driven in the middle of such crisis.

Congratulations to the Cameroon Indomitable Lions: Alfred Aboya, Christian Bayang, Parfait Bitee, Patrick Bouli, Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Joachim Ekanga Ehawa, Jean Pierre Ellong Ebongue, Cyrille Makanda, Harding Nana, Franck Ndongo, Brice Vounang, Alexis Wangmene, and Coach Lazare Adingono.


Hopefully, this inspirational effort would encourage the country to support the game of basketball back home. Without a doubt, Cameroon has the skilled players. It would be truly great when the time comes when the National Basketball Teams have the full support of the Cameroon Government, allowing these fine men and women to compete at the highest level without any stress, apart from stress on the court.

BY JULIUS MBARAGA

Cliff Owuor’s Indomitable Lions maintained their unbeaten run this season after ousting archrivals CSK 89-67 in a tense league game played at Amahoro stadium indoor courts on Saturday.

APR’s new signing Kami Kabange scored 18 points, six assists and four rebounds to preserve the 2006 champions lead on the league table.

Despite the win, Owuor has hit out at the unfair umpiring that his team was subjected to on Saturday. The former Kenyan international insists that the margin could have been bigger if only the umpires had been fair.
“We had a lot of calls going against us during the CSK game and I hope that does not happen again,” the 34-year-old coach told Times Sport.

Elsewhere, Rusizi had to hold off a late surge from National University of Rwanda before securing a 117-113 win in a close contest that also goes down as the highest score of the season so far.
APR now have 18 points, three ahead of CSK, who are second on the table while defending champions Marines are third.
In the ladies category, Rubavu outclassed Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) 31-27 in one of the lowest scores of the season.

- Champions St Mary’s Kitende and Kibuli will again come under scrutiny at the Kabaka schools
basketball tournament that starts this weekend. Kitende won the boy's title while Kibuli took the girl's crown during last year's tournament. The school's basketball giants are yet to repeat this form, flopped during the national championship in May.

by Pius Ayinor
Lagos

The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has invited 13 players for immediate camping in Lagos. The Secretary General of the Federation Mr. Francis Gbiri told THISDAYSport that the letters requesting the players' releases have been sent to the state associations and the clubs the players feature for.
"We wrote to the states and the clubs involved as soon the list of players was screened and approved. And so the players are expected to arrive on the date stated," Gbiri said.
The camp is billed to start in Lagos today with the National Stadium as venue for the training. Former national coach Ayo Bakare returns to the scene as the Head Coach and will be assisted by Sani Ahmed of Kano Pillars. Both coaches have been part of the national team programmes for the past 15years. The team will train daily at the stadium from 11am to 2pm expectedly to make way for league matches also holding at the same venue.
The team made of entirely home-based league players are in camp preparatory to the 25th African Nations Cup qualifiers. The African Zone Three qualifiers will be holding in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire from July 28th to August 5th. Nigeria could not get a direct entry because The Tigers finished at the fifth position in the last edition in Angola two years ago.
The full list of players has Enovakhare Lee (Lagos Islanders), Awere Cyril (Kano Pillars), Edeghe Boniface (Yelwa Hawks), Ebikoro Dennis (Ebun Comets) Onyeka Ekpite (Comets) and Gumut Stanley (Plateau Peaks). The others are Yusuf Ibrahim Adamu (Kano Pillars), Usman Abubakar (Niger Potters), Dike Azuoma (Union Bank), Daudu Onokhoje Daniel (Union Bank), Mohammed Abdulrahman (Nigeria Customs), Ikyator Orseer (Comets), and Edem Ekpeyong (Yelwa Hawks).
The other persons on the list are the Head of Delegation, Dr. Adamu Ahmed, who is the Federation's head of Technical Committee, and the Secretary General. The team doctor has not been named.

Marko Tomas exploded for 22 points and Croatia held off a very determined Cameroon in their opening game at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Croatians, one of the favourites to claim a spot for the Beijing Games, prevailed 93-79.
The fact that the game was played at all was a minor miracle, though.
Cameroon's players only decided at the last minute to go ahead with the game as they have yet to receive money after taking part in last year's FIBA Africa Championship.
"We have faced a lot of adversity, from trying to prepare to having the guys receive what they were promised - the money they deserve - after playing at the AfroBasket in Angola," Cameroon coach Lazare Adingono said to FIBA.
"They were promised something, and they haven't received it. They haven't received anything. They had elected not to play today unless something was done, and up to the last minute, nothing had been done.
"They came together, talked about it and said if the government and federation weren't willing to help them in any way, they decided they would do it for the country and their families.
"It's a tribute to them. They wanted to show to the entire world that Cameroon can be a force for years to come, not just in Africa, but the whole world. They wanted to show what this could have been if everything could have been in place."
Judging from the awesome athleticism and the never-give-up attitude, Cameroon could be a major player on the international stage.
They out-rebounded Croatia 39-26 but Jasmin Repesa's team killed them in transition, getting 21 fast-break points to just five for the Africans.
Croatia went in front by as many as 22 points, but Adingono's team never quit and chipped away at the deficit.
They went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to 62-53 but Croatia were never under serious threat.
Croatia were eight of 16 from three-point range, with Tomas three of four from the arc.
"Okay, I'm happy, but I need to continue to play like this," Tomas said.

Cape Verde now know what it’s like to play at the highest level of the men’s game after suffering a 77-50 mauling at the hands of New Zealand on Monday in Athens.
Playing in the curtain-raiser of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Africans suffered for most of the game and their coach Eric Silva admitted after that his team had been totally out-classed.
“There is a big difference in quality between the two teams,” Silva said.
“This was our first game at that level. New Zealand has played many games in international level - world championships and other major competitions. For us it’s not the same.”
When the game started, there was a bounce in the step of all the Cape Verdeans but it quickly became apparent they would struggle for 40 minutes.
They didn’t score a point until captain Rodrigo Mascarenhas, with New Zealand leading 16-0 seven minutes into the game, went up for a lay-up.
Nenad Vucinic, the New Zealand head coach, tried to offer some words of comfort after the contest.
“I would like to welcome Cape Verde and its coach to international competition,” he said.
“This was their debut and it has been always hard to play in that level.
“I know they are a better team than they showed today.”
Vucinic then spoke of his relief that the Tall Blacks had cleared their first hurdle as they attempt to make it back to the Olympics.
“We wanted to start tough and build a lead,” he said. “Indeed, we ran a good streak to begin the game.
“However, Cape Verde showed their spirit as they didn’t give up until the end and I have to say that as a coach, I never felt comfortable until the very end of the game.”
Now New Zealand will take on Germany on Wednesday in a battle for Group B supremacy, with the losers almost certain to take on Greece in the quarter-finals.
“We have to play smart and tough,” Vucinic said.
“We feel we are in a good position. The team’s rebuilding process is underway. Seven players of our golden age that reached the 2002 World Championships semi-finals are now retired.
“From now on, we play (here) with the odds against us. But, we usually play well in these cases.”

Cyrille Makanda (190-G-80) of CSK VVS Samara (RUS)
Alfred Aboya (203-F/C-85) of Univ.of Calif.at Los Angeles (USA)
Christian Bayang (193-G-87) of BEAC Yaounde
Parfait Bitee (188-G-85) of Rhode Island University (USA)
Patrick Bouli (188-G-86) of Manhattan College (USA)
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (212-C-78) of EWE Baskets Oldenburg (GER)
Joachim Ekanga Ehawa (188-G-77) of ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (FRA)
Jean Pierre Elong (-85) of BEAC Yaounde
Harding Nana (203-F-81) of Beirasar Rosalia (ESP)
Franck Ndongo (201-F-88) of Virginia Commonwealth University (USA)
Brice Vounang (203-F-82) of SPO Rouen Basket (FRA)
Alexis Wangmene (203-F/C-89) of The University of Texas (USA)
Head Coach: Lazare Adingono

Egypt 80-63 Jordan,A needed victory over jordan last night to pass the unexpected defeat from quatar in jones cup oppening,Tarek El Ghanam scored 15 points,6 rebounds.The egyptian team still have to face Khazkhistan,Australia,American stars team,the hostes Korea.I talked to Ramy Guinedy he told me (if we had a chance to be well prepared we could win the jones cup easily).Egypt will particpate in the Arab champianship next month.

By Dann O’werre

Five basketball players from Moi Nairobi Girls School will visit USA next year on an exchange programme, courtesy of Alcatel Lucent.

The organisation has sent a team of 17 to Kenya for the programme and, in the entourage, are professionals who include engineers, Information Technology experts and high school players to promote the game and encourage the girls to take up science in school.
Diana L Tyson, co-founder and also team leader, said the five players will be assessed on today and those picked will be hosted at the Rutgers University in New Jersey. They will also visit the members of the team in their homes.
"We are looking for teenage girls who are good in maths and science so that we can introduce them to the world of engineering," said Tyson.
She said the five Kenyan players will make the once-in-a-life time trip with 15 others who will be identified from Rwanda, Liberia and Benin. The camp will have 100 participants and many coaches from USA will tap talent there.
Alcatel Lucent, who are marking their 10th anniversary, have been to 18 countries worldwide on a similar mission.
"The school team is good. They are hard working and disciplined. They shoot well and, with the practises they have been undergoing, they should do well," said Tyson. She said engineering is for most talented and not about gender.
She said when the players go to the US next year, they will mix with the other girls to play sports and in cultural inter-relations.
The US players are all at the school where they interact with the students academically and socially at all times.
The group will visit Kibera slums on their final day where they and the school girls will be engaged in a mock game for the residents in a Unicef-sponsored school.
The girls have benefited from the coaching skills of tactician Chari Cooper, who is a former college player at Kane University.
She said the week long camp that has seen the girls play together with the seven high school Americans, has motivated them and they now know they have a chance in the game.
"They are adapting well. They are open to learning and everyday they get better," said Cooper, who is headed for Europe to play in the Italian national women’s league.
Jo Wilson, who is an engineer based in the UK, said most girls want to be doctors or engineers. "Sometime back, it was not easy to find women engineers, but now in every 10 people in this profession, there are three women," she said.
The school headmistress, Jael Mureithi, said the programme will see her girls travel to the US on an exchange programme was initiated "by a friend of the school."
The visitors wanted to visit a school that performs well in academics and sports so they can relate well.
"The visit has been a blessing for Moi Girls School," said the head teacher adding, "they could have have gone to any other school."
Equally elated was the schools games instructor and coach, Kibe Gitau.. He predicted that the school that has produced Usiu and national team play-maker, Samba Mjomba, will make history next year.
"The school has done well in volleyball, hockey and handball. From now, I expect the basketball programme to pick up as the girls will be playing more," he said.

FOREIGN OF THE ELITE.

The elite championship permitted several clubs to reinforce their strength during the phase return; many players were even recruited out of Gabon, what gave back the very attractive championship.
1 Mujanayi Fabrice ; (86 -Lambarn-Gabon) ; Congolese ; MANGA Basket
2 Massoundji ; John (83 -Garoua -Cameroon) ; Chadian ; MANGA Basket
3 Johd Masrabe ; ( 81- Koutadis -Chad) Chadian ; MANGA Basket
4 Mit Mesmin ; (81- Brazzaville Congolese ; MANGA Basket
5 Campani Sylvains ; ( 1984 Bangui) ; RCA ATOMICK
6 Ganazoui Apollinaires ( 80- Bangui) RCA ATOMICK
7 Dieye Pope Birame ; ( 86-) Senegalese ATOMICK
8 Ibango Daddy ; ( 84) ; Kinshasa RDC Stade Mandji
9 Otombo Doudou ; (85) ; Kinshasa RDC Stade Mandji
10 Lifetu Armand ; ( 85) ; Kinshasa Congolese Stade Mandji
11 Mouaba Kopia Brice J. ; ( 80 Bangui) (RCA).CAS 1987
12 Sylla Oussenou (88) Dakar (Senegal) CAS 1987
13 Ouilikon Mesmin Cyr ; ( 81 Bangui) (RCA) CAS 1987
14 Gadi Mario ; Tchadienne ; CAS 1987
15 Tato Cyrille ; ( 87 Dla) ; Cameroon ASSCTG
16 Diop Bambas ; (88) ; Dakar Senegal ; ASSCTG
17 Pindra Mohamed ; ( 81) ; Libreville ; Beninese AOBB
18 Bouli Paul Armand ; ( 85) ; Yaound - Cameroonian TOUNGUI
19 KOUZOU J Michel ; (86 ) ;Yaound ; Cameroonian TOUNGUI
20 Moutombo K. Bebina ; ( 78) Kinshasa ; Congolese Somo B
21 Buzango Johnnie ; ( 88) Kinshasa ; Congolese SOMO B

A very popular newspaper in our country name 'Le MESSAGER ' have as main title this morning :Our national basketball team on strike in FRANCE.
The players are not satisfied about the poor conditions of the preparation for the preolmpique tournament. They are in a second level hotel with no telephone bad food no Doctor any water to drink and a lot of other difficulties.Some of them like Njoya Seidou have leave the camp . The other are still waiting for solution from the country.
It is clear that in Cameroon things are different when we speak about other sport than SOCCER.

Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) named a provisional list of 41 players who will start training for the Zone Five Africa qualifiers slated for Kampala, Uganda next month.

While releasing the names of 22 girls and 19 boys, KBF fixtures secretary Joseph Amoko told FIBA yesterday that the teams will assemble for strict training in Kisumu early in August once the schools are closed for the holidays.

"Already weekly training sessions is going on in both Mombasa and Nairobi under the two coaches who will handle the teams. We will organise a proper schedule once we have all the players together." said Amoko who appealed for well wishers to come to the teams aid.

KBF slected the players during the Kenya Secondary School championships that was held in Mangu High School, Thika in April but have delayed the naming of the players because it was thought it would distract them from their daily academic work.

The championships will take place at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala from August 11-16 and will involve teams from Burundi, Rwanda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Sudan, Somalia and host Uganda. The winners will qualify for the Africa event in October.

Succesful High school coaches Phillip Onyango (Mombasa High) and David Maina (St Austins) were given the task of handling the teams to glory in this regional event. Out of the players named, only 11 turn out for clubs while the rest are high school and college students.

FIBA Africa have set the deadline for registration of the players as July 15 and it will be by birth only. Only players under that age bracket will be allowed to take part in the tournament. Penalty will be meted out to those who cheat.

Girls- Yvonne Mashedi (Storms), Debrah Obunga , Mercy Otieno (Crusiers), Anastasia Njeri, Ingrid Auma, (Eagle Wings), Joyce Misita, Florence Ademo (Tigoi Girls), Everlyne Adhiambo, Purity Adhiambo, Dinah Sarah, Margaret Wambui , Mildred Olumasi, Susan Akinyi (Mombasa High), Arabella Litole, Getrude Atieno, (Pangani Girls), Millicent Adhiambo (Shimba Hiills), Sophia Mando (Waa Girls) Gloria Nyamwanda (Buru Buru Girls), Virginia Awino (Langata Sec), Grace Wanjiku (Starthmore), Pauline Awuor (Bura Girls) and Milka Atieno (Machakos Girls).

Roster: Tibanus Menya, Michael Otula, Moses Wanjala (Maseno High) , Titus Musembi (KCA University), Samora Kevin, Simon Oyamo, David Ogolla, (St Austins), Samuel Odera (Changamwe), Joseph Shituma (UoN), Erick Reuben (Kayole Secondary), Evans Leting (USIU), Taila Okamu (Friends Kamusinga), Anthony Okello (KPA), Zadock Odhiambo (Baptist), Eric Nyamai, Joshua Orwa (Lakeside) and Kevin Ominde (Shimo) Anthony Abinadab, John Paul Nyandaro (Posta).

Dann OWERRE
from fiba.com

Mohamed Said (205-C-80) of Shorta-Police
Mahmoud Mahmoud (185-G-86) of Al Gezira
Ramy Gunady (185-G-81) of Al Gezira
Wael Badr (193-G-78) of Al Zamalek
Mohamed Adly (211-C-87) of Al Ahly
Ahmed El Said (193-F-84) of Al Zamalek
Tarek El Ghanam (211-C-78) of Al Ahly
Haitham El Saharty (197-F-85) of Al Zamalek
Mohamed Khorshed (204-C-85) of Sporting
Karim Shamseya (198-F-83)
Mohammed El Kerdani (195-F-77) of Al Gezira
Moumen El Enein (198-F-86) of Al Ittihad Alexandria
Mostafa Shaawat (203-C-87)
Tamer Mostafa (187-G-82) of Somouha
Head Coach: Samy El Sharony
Coach: Sabry Abdel-Naby

by Albert Marufu
Maputo, Mozambique

ZIMBABWE'S representatives in the women's Zone Six Africa Basketball Club preliminary qualifiers JBC made life difficult for themselves after falling 56-95 to Mozambique's Despotivo Maputo at Estrela Vermelha Sports Club here on Tuesday night.

JBC, who lost their opening match 40-68 to Angola's Primeiro de Agosto, will now have to win their remaining two matches against continental heavyweights Ferroviaro of Mozambique and Maculusso of Angola tonight and tomorrow.
In Tuesday night's match, Despotivo took the game to their opponents from the onset and won all the four quarters of the game.
Akunge Pauline top-scored for the home team with 22 points and was ably supported by Filomena Micato and Deolinda Ngulela who weighed in with 13 points apiece.
JBC's Fadzai Mabasa fought a lone battle contributing 15 points to the visitors' total with Charity Chigumba adding 10 points while Juliet Misihairambwi and Sibongile Mradla contributed eight points apiece.

However, JBC coach Addison Chiware remains optimistic that his charges will win their next two matches and still qualify for the finals of the tournaent to be held in Nigeria in October.
"We lost the match in the first quarter where we gave Despotivo too much space for shooting. In the second and third quarter we managed to hold them only to break in the last quarter.
"It is goint to be difficult, but we now have to win our last two games for us to qualfy," he said.
Currently Angola's Primero de Agosto and Ferroviaro de Mozambique were ranked first and second respectively while JBC occupied position four. The top two teams from the tournament will qualify for the finals of the Africa Basketball Club Championships to be held in Nigeria in October.
Only three countries - Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe - managed to send teams to the tournament in the Zone Six region that includes countries in the Southern Africa Development Community.

The tournament ends tomorrow evening.

Angola's senior males basketball team faces this evening in Spain, local under-23 team, in the first preparation game for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, scheduled for August in China.

In Madrid since June 23, Angola (African champions) will play control games with various teams.
Before the Olympic Games, the Angolan team will compete at the "Borislav Stancovick" and "Diamante" Cups, in China and Macau, respectively.
The national team coached by Alberto de Carvalho comprises players like Kikas Gomes, Olímpio Cipriano, Carlos Almeida, Armando Costa, Felizardo Ambrósio, Vlademir Ricardino, Abdel Bouckar, Eduardo Mingas, Milton Barros, Victor Muzadi, Luís Costa, Carlos Morais, Domingos Bonifácio, Leonel Paulo, Francisco Horácio, Idelfonso Quiteculo, Divaldo Bunga and Emanuel Neto

Thirty thousand US dollars have been released by Angola's African Investment Bank (BAI), to support the younger categories of Benfica do Lubango's basketball discipline, for two years, ANGOP learnt this Wednesday.
According to the outgoing chairman of Benfica do Lubango, Cunha Velho, the amount aims, among others, at the acquisition of material that will be used to boost the club's junior and pre-junior basketball, for males and females.
Basketball in Benfica do Lubango is only played by the females pre-junior category, who have already won two national championships, in 2005 and 2006.
This year, the club started a junior category project which involves thirty athletes in both sexes.

by Julius Mbaraga
Kigali

Cliff Owuor is convinced his Indomitable Lions can become the dominant force in Rwanda basketball once again after their Liberation heroics.

The APR coach, who is already considered to be one of the best coaches in the history of local basketball made the statement after APR were crowned champions of the 2008 Liberation tournament after a convincing 98-66 win over Burundi's New Star last Sunday.
The ex-Kenyan international, who made three signings in Bienvenue Ngandu from Onatra (DR Congo), Micheal Buzangu from Mazembe (DR Congo) and Karim Nkusi who rejoined the Zone V club champions after a one-year spell with arch-rivals Espoir this year believes the current squad as a collective unit, has the potential to be his best yet.
"I feel the togetherness is there, the desire is there and the quality is there. There is balance in the team which is a key aspect if a team is to prevail at the top level," the 34-year-old added.
Despite losing the heroes title to Marine early this year, Owuor is buoyant APR will recapture the league.
Owuor, who joined APR in 2005 from Kenya heavy weights Ulinzi, has guided the club to sixteen titles since. This year, APR has lifted two titles; the Nizeyimana memorial and Liberation tournament.

Angola's basketball team of 1º de Agosto Monday beat JBC of Zimbabwe by 64-40, in second round match of basketball tournament qualifier for the final phase of senior female African clubs championship cup, taking place in Mozambican capital, Maputo.
The Angolan team, coached by Raul Duarte, had no difficulties to defeat a team which has shown good performance during the game.
At the first half the Angolans were winning 29-24, during which they could add the advantage at the second half. The Angolan players Ângela Cardoso and Nacissela Maurício were considered the best scorers with 13 points each.

Tuesday afternoon the team will meet with "Ferroviário de Maputo" in the most attractive encounter of the third round.

by Pius Ayinor
Lagos

Sunday was a full day of men's basketball in Lagos as three Premier League matches were played at the National Stadium. The men's event is on the heels of the female Zenith Bank League that meant at least five matches a day in Lagos for 10 days ending late Saturday.
In the very first match of the day Customs rekindled their fight for a play off spot with a 52-49 win over Ebun Comets. While it was a good run for the uniformed men, it marked another rough day on the court for the Comets who lost four straight games in all competitions with the fall to the Customs.

"Our players did very well but I am also surprise at the performance of the Comets team. It is not exactly the Comets we used to know. We had serious foul problems and had to play the last quarter with our bench and still had our ground," Mohammed Jagu Abba, the Customs assistant coach told THISDAYSports.

In the second match of the day Lagos Islanders defeated Delta Force 55-29. The match marked series of losses for the Asaba-based team just as they have lost out completely from the race to the play off.
The star match of the day was the last game between Union Bank and Dodan Warriors. The match, which began at about 6 pm, played at a clutch until the very last three minutes when the Union Bank team built up a nine-point gap and the lead saw them through to the buzzer.
The match was two straight wins for the Stallion Boys who also won their match on Saturday against visiting Yelwa Hawks from Bauchi State. The Hawks were on their Road Trip through the Atlantic Conference which they rounded off by the weekend.
The Hawks defeated Comets on Friday and that turned out as their only win of the tour having lost the other five matches.

by Julius Mbaraga
Kigali

APR roared to their second successive Liberation title after an easy 98-66 win over Burundi's New Star on Sunday. The Indomitable Lions who had registered a massive 102-59 semi-final victory over Burundi's Dynamo kept their rhythm going in the final.

Bienvenue Ngandu playing in his first Liberation tournament, had 20 points to lead the defending champions but it was Kami Kabange who turned the tide, scoring 11 fourth-quarter points after a shaky start.
APR had been given a scare in the third quarter when New Star cut down their point deficit from 23 to just nine points but Kabange made a dramatic return to finish off with 18 points after scoring a meagre seven in the first three quarters.
"When they narrowed the gap at the end of the third quarter, pressure was on us. We had to re-organise our selves and I'm happy that we managed to do it," APR's coach Cliff Owuor said after winning his 12th title with the club.
The atmosphere inside the Amahoro indoor courts was electric with anticipation of a thrilling final after an impressive run to the final from both clubs.
On top of the Liberation trophy, APR was also presented with Frw300.000 in cash prize courtesy of the local basketball governing body (Ferwaba).

The Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF has recall former coach of the Nigeria national teams, Ayodele Bakare to tinker the Nigeria senior men national team, DTigers after series of failed attempts with expatriate coaches.

The coming back of Bakare, Nigeria most successful coach who qualified Nigeria for her first FIBA World Championship in 1998 in Greece when the country finished second to host Senegal at the 1997 FIBA Africa Championship for Men.
The Ebun Comets basketball club owner and coach was in the saddle until 2003 before he took a voluntary retirement from national duties, he was, however, recalled in 2005 when Nigeria hosted and won the 19th FIBA Africa Championship for Women in Abuja, Nigeria before bowing out to allow the Nigeria federation experiment with two expatriate coaches Sam Vincent who took Nigeria senior men team a step back-ward in 2005 when the country finished third behind perennial champion, Angola and Senegal but bagged a place in the 2006 FIBA World Championship held in Japan then came Robert McCollum in 2007,
McCollum was in charge when Nigeria recorded one of the worst results in her basketball history when DTigers was bundled out of the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship for Men by little known Cape Verde in the quarter-finals and the country managed a fifth placing.
With the shoddy performance of the countrys team under expatriate coaches, the NBBF have no option than to revert back to making use of indigenous coaches so as to stop the wastage of the scarce resources at the disposal of the federation.
Bakare first assignment according to our finding is the FIBA Africa Zone-3 qualifiers of the 2009 Africa Men Championship in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire later this month.

Action resume Tuesday in the Lagos City Basketball league after a one week break due to crowded activities of the Zenith bank Women League which ended last Saturday in Lagos.

According to the organizers of the league, Lagos State Basketball Association, LSBBA, four matches will be on the bill Tuesday with 2007 runner-up, Union Bank basketball club battling it out against giant killer, Whales basketball club at 10.00 hours local time.
Whales players and their coach, Charles Osho says they are looking forward to creating another upset after they humbled Ebun Comets 60-59 last week.
The players are confident that if they can do it against Comets they can do it against any team in the league.
The era of big teams is over and my players are looking forward to the encounter against the Union Bank with a promise to repeat what was achieved against Ebun Comets last week, the youthful coach says.
Flames basketball club will slug it out against Islanders at 12.30 hours local time just as Police Bombers will engage Ikorodu Kings at 14.00 hours, while the last match of the day will be between Chariot and Ebun Comets basketball club at 15.30 hours.
Two matches will be decided on Wednesday with Islanders taking on Chariot at 13.00 hours while Union Bank battles it out against Police Bombers basketball club.
Actions continue on Thursday and Friday when the first stanza of the league comes to and end and the mid-season transfer window will be thrown open to allow the movement of players within teams in the league.

from africabasket.com

See here more updates from the league.
The last games results were:

June 21 = Wizards - Yotive (postponed due to rain)
June 25 = Reformers 45 - Panthers 62
June 27 = Police 38 - Flames 35
June 28 = Braves of CEPS 80 - Wizards 43
July 3 = Reformers 74 - Flames 73
July 5 = Wizard 40 - Fire 53 MVP of the game: Enoch Andoh (203-F-89)
July 5 = Premier Panthers 43 - Cape Coast HOOPS 45 MVP of the game: Saykam Bestman (191-G/F-91).
Cape Coast Hoops won despite the absence of the Nigerian imports, who traveled to Nigeria for a break

by Pius Ayinor
Lagos

The Zenith Bank Basketball League for Women ended by the weekend with defending champions First Bank retaining their trophy. Indeed the Elephant Girls have dominated and won the league since it began four years ago.
This season First Bank proved they were yet to have formidable opponents by maintaining one hundred percent performance in 27 matches played across different parts of the country since the month of March.
In their last game late Saturday, they defeated Delta Force of Asaba 62-47 in a match watched by a large crowd. Dolphins, who finished at the second position, dropped six matches just as the third best team - Delta Force. Dolphins went ahead of Delta on head-to-head rule having won all three of their encounters.

The match between Delta Force and the winners played out above the rating of analysts as the ladies from Asaba took the initial lead and held on positively through the break. First Bank won the third quarter out rightly and that gave them a lee way to the buzzer.
In Saturday's closing ceremony sponsors of the league, Zenith Bank told the players and the spectators that they were delighted by the quality of the league and were proud to be associated by such young talents assembled from across the country.
The Zenith Bank Managing Director, who was represented by the Deputy General Manager - Oils and Gas Bukola Latunji, said: "We have followed this competition from Abuja through Enugu and we are really touched by the competitive spirit of these young ladies. Our desire is to ensure that young people are kept positively active all the time. Zenith Bank is committed to ensuring that young people develop and use their talent in a way that can benefit them and the society. And we glad to help build up their capacity and that is the reason we are putting our money into basketball because we know that this league affects lives, especially these young ones in very useful way. And we assure them that we still committed to the Zenith Bank League."
Owners of the league, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) said they were committed to making the league more attractive to the players, the sponsors and the fans of the game.
For winning the Zenith Bank League, the Elephant Girls got a trophy, and a cash prize of N750, 000. Dolphins earned N500, 000 and also got a continental ticket like the champions. Both teams, and possibly Delta Force will represent Nigeria in the 2008 African Women Club Championship fixed for October.
Chioma Udeaja of First Bank emulated her club by retaining the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The national power forward/center has won the award in the last three seasons. She took home a cash prize of N50, 000 in addition to the N15, 000 she got as the highest scorer through the three phases.There were other individual awards.
The next season for the league will open in November with 10 teams participating.

by Titus Munga
Arusha

The Arusha Basketball Kings are now working to reorganize themselves for the coming competitions after coming home empty handed from the East African intercity basket ball championship in Dar es Salaam.
Elia Mwabukusi, King's captain told the Arusha Times that his team lacked funds for any meaningful preparations despite their appeal to different stakeholders for monetary support.
He said they had planned numerous friendly meets before the intercity meeting but failed due to financial constraints.
Mwabukusi said they were all out to strengthen their team, recent defeats notwithstanding.
The intercity meet involved Nairobi and Mombasa of Kenya; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya and Mwanza, from Tanzania and Kampala, Uganda. The Dream team of Dar es Salaam took the cup in the men's championship.

Determine to bounce back to reclaim the second position of the 2008 Zenith Bank Women League, Delta Force basketball club of Asaba will today (Saturday) take to the floor against runaway champion, First Bank basketball club of Lagos.
The Lateef Erinfolami coached Force from Delta State will attempt to do the impossible and at least put paid to the invisibility of the Elephant Girls. According to the former Nigeria international and newly named assistant coach of the Nigeria national U18 men team that the bankers are beatable and says he has instructed his players to be prepared for the match.
First Bank remain the only team that has not been beaten in the Nigeria local scene in the last four years a record coach Adewumi Aderemi and his wards are not ready to trade off for anything even as they have been crowned the undisputed champion of the Nigerian women league.
Aderemi told www.fiba-afrique.org in a chat that his team is not ready to underrate any opposition in the Zenith Bank sponsored league.
The Delta Force, First Bank clash is the last game of the 2008 Zenith Bank Women League season.

Other games billed for today (Saturday) at the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos includes AHIP versus FCT Angels; Plateau Rocks will engage Amazons; Nigeria Immigration locks horn with Sunshine Angels of Akure while Dolphin will take to the floor against Nigeria Customs.

On Thursday Sunshine Angels defeated Amazons by 70-50 points, Immigration was 68-59 points better than AHIP, just as FCT Angels fell to Plateau Rocks by 56-52 points, Delta Force had the better of Nigeria Customs with a 49-42 points win while First Bank white-wash Dolphin by 89-47 points.

Day-9 Results:
Sunshine Angels 70-50 Amazons
AHIP 59-68 Nigeria Immigration
Plateau Rocks 56-52 FCT Angels
Nigeria Customs 42-49 Delta Force
First Bank 89-47 Dolphin

Day-10 Games – Saturday July 5
AHIP Vs FCT Angels
Plateau Rocks Vs Amazons
Nigeria Immigration Vs Sunshine Angels
Dolphin Vs Nigeria Customs
Delta Force Vs First Bank

Zenith League

After years of losing to Dolphins of Lagos, the Immigration team yesterday rose to the occasion by beating Dolphins 53-52 on Day 5 of the Zenith Bank Women’s League holding in Lagos. The match, which was the first match of the day, was an early morning shocker for the Dolphins, who have consistently been the number two team in the league.
“A number of my players were sick from food poisoning but they had to play against doctor’s advice; they were very sick. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. The players were too relaxed for a game at this level and we have paid dearly for that. This was not a game to lose but things went wrong,” Wale Aboderin, the Dolphins owner and manager told THISDAYSports.
The loss was the fifth for Dolphins in 25 matches since the league began three months ago. But for the Immigration ladies the win was just the second for them since arriving in Lagos last week. The win will help secure them from the drop zone while the loss may cause Dolphins their current second spot by the time the league rounds off on Saturday. Dolphins and Delta Force were tied on points at the second position with Sunshine Angels close on their heels when the final phase began last Thursday.
In another Zenith League game played at the National Stadium yesterday Sunshine Angels maintained their good run with a 63-36 victory over FCT Angels. It was the fifth straight loss for the FCT ladies who are playing within the drop zone. Plateau Rocks defeated AHIP Queens 52-51 in another slip victory of Monday.
Today will serve as match free day but tomorrow Nigeria Customs and AHIP will start the first battle of the day. Their match will be followed by that between Plateau Rocks and Delta Force. The star match tomorrow is the last match of the day between Sunshine Angels and Dolphins.
In the men’s Premier League, Yelwa Hawks began their Road Trip yesterday in Asaba. The Lagos Islanders team will be host to the Hawks tonight in Lagos. The road games of Yelwa Hawks will end on Saturday with the line up against Union Bank.

Zenith League

It is clearly a season of upsets in the Zenith Bank League as every day has provided an upset result since the final round began in Lagos last Thursday. Yesterday it was the turn of AHIP Queens of Kano as they upturned the Customs women with a 69-62 beating. It was the first match of the day and provided an early morning shocker for the Customs who entered the league system more than a decade before AHIP came into existence.
The Customs coach Mohammed Jagu Abba reeled out the excuse analysts have heard from the team in both the male and female competitions in the last three weeks.
“As people would have noticed the officers are not here today; they are all attending to jobs in the office. We held ourselves together and won matches when we had a full squad. But now we seriously depleted and that is the reason we are struggling but we are determined to finish in Lagos at a very respectable position,” he said.
The AHIP ladies, who are placed at the 9th position in the 10-team league, were not expected to do so well against the Customs at the fifth position but it appears the younger players from Kano were encouraged by other results from Day One when smaller teams have triumphed to the amazement of stronger opponents. They started forcefully and soon took the lead and held on tenaciously to the buzzer.
They were rewarded with applause and a collection of new fans for their effort.
But the morning shocker could not continue into the next game as Delta Force levelled Plateau Rocks 66-41 immediately afterwards. The game was fully controlled by the winners from the start to the buzzer.
First Bank girls followed suit and thrashed Nigeria Immigration team 87-30 in a game spectators knew exactly who would win the match as early as the first quarter.
The win kept the Elephant Girls steadily on top of the table after 24 matches.
Today the FCT Angels, who are still in search of their first win, will face the Customs in the opening match hoping to emulate the AHIP Queens. The second match is for those at the other end of the table Plateau Rocks and Immigration battling for supremacy. The star match is the last game between Dolphins and Delta Force. It is an open ended game.
In the men’s Premier League Yelwa Hawks will continue with their road games as they face the Customs hoping for a win on the road.

By Pius Ayinor, 07.04.2008


Customs defeated FCT Angels 61-48 yesterday in a day of the uniform ladies as the Nigeria Immigration team also defeated Plateau Rocks 48-41. The wins kept the teams running for the middle of the table where they are clearly gunning for after the first two phases in Abuja and Enugu.
The matches were won as the Zenith Bank League for Women began the final series for this season. The last of the games for the 2007/08 season will be played tomorrow in Lagos at the National Stadium.
Two days before the match played yesterday, Emmanuel Odah of the FCT Angels had told THISDAYSports that they were not bent on winning matches in Lagos.
“We are in a development stage; we are just building a new team. We have never played in the league before and most of the players are just young school leavers and so we don’t expect so much from them now. This is the time to build up experience,” Odah said.
The FCT girls, however, won their first game on Wednesday shocking Dodan Amazons in the process by 53-41.
Also at the National Stadium yesterday Dodan Amazons woke up from a deep slumber to beat AHIP Queens 74-65. It was the third match of the day and the spectators expected the Amazons to win given the records of both teams since the league began four years ago.
The final matches will be played tomorrow at the same venue with AHIP, FCT Angels match starting off the day at 10am. The star treat of Saturday is the last match of the day between winners of last season First Bank and third best team, Delta Force. The game is billed to hold from about 4pm as part of the closing ceremony. Before they step out, Customs will battle the Dolphins.
The closing ceremony is expected to be graced by the officials of Zenith Bank, Sports Ministry and the Federation board members and well as other guests from the Nigerian corporate world.

by PHILIP ONYANGO and CAXTON APOLLO

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie Odinga has been named in the 22-member national under-18 girls basketball team for the Africa Zone Five championships to be held in Kampala next month.

At the same time, the Kenya Basketball Federation has appointed the first ever women basketball assistant coaches to the national teams. Former international Wilkister Oduor of Kisumu Cruisers and Sylvia ‘Sly’ Njeri , headcoach of Strathmore women basketball team.
The two will assist Headcoaches David Maina (boys) and Philip Onyango (girls) appointed earlier to handle the teams for the championships.
KBF secretary general Vitalis Gode said Odinga, a forward at BrookeHouse Academy has the size and agility and will be very useful in Kenya’s campaign for a ticket to the World junior championships in Spain next year.
“We have been monitoring all the players secretly and are satisfied that Winnie will make the final team and will play a very important role in Kenya’s campaign,” said Gode who also named the boys’ team.
The teams have been training separately in Mombasa and Nairobi and will go to camp in August in Kisumu 10 days before the championship starts on 11 August. Kenya’s opponents include Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea. At stake a single ticket to the Africa junior championships to be held in Tunisia for girls and Egypt for boys.

* National basketball league top sides Kenya Commercial Bank Lions and Co-operative Bank of Kenya are poised to grab maximum two first leg points against their opponents at the Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Saturday.

Lions, the only unbeaten side in the men’s Premier League, start as favourites against International Christian Centre (ICC) at 2 pm. On Saturday, Victor Odendo will be the main actor with support coming from Tobias Onyango, Yoni Wanambiro and David Otiso. Luka Lukongo and David Kyalo are expected to lead the ICC challenge.

Co-op Bank will rely on new signing Richard Osano as they confront lowly rated Java Warriors at 4pm. Wycliffe Ochieng, Lewis Muya and George Kamau will also be coach Carey Oketch’s preferred players for Saturday's task.

In the only women’s tie, Sprite Storms led by Anjella Luchivya and Irene Makori will host Kisumu-based Cruisers. Kisumu teams have been unable to honour their Nairobi fixtures and it’s unclear whether Cruisers will make it for the match.

Luc Mbah a Moute is uncertain if he will play for Cameroon at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens.

While Cameroon train in Lyon, France, ahead of the qualifying event which tips off on July 14, Mbah a Moute, arguably his country’s most important player, is working out with the Milwaukee Bucks after being chosen by the team in the second round of the NBA draft.
“I am still talking with the team (Milwaukee),” Mbah a Moute said to FIBA.Com.
“I don’t know what their decision will be.”
The 22-year-old forward, best known for his defensive ability at both UCLA and at last year’s FIBA Africa Championship for Cameroon where the team claimed a surprise silver medal, is close to fulfilling a dream by playing in the NBA.
“If I don’t go to Athens, I will be disappointed,” he said, “but at same time I will be excited about having the chance to be working out with a new team.
“I believe the guys could surprise many people in Athens.”
Mbah a Moute made three straight NCAA Final Four appearances with UCLA and elected to turn pro before his senior year.
In Lyon, Cameroon coach Lazare Adingono has his fingers crossed that the new Bucks recruit will be in his team as the Africans take on Puerto Rico and Croatia in Group D in Greece.
“It is up to his team to make it clear if they will allow him to play for Cameroon,” Adingono said to FIBA.Com.
“We would love to have him with us.
“If he does not come, it will be a blow for us, but we have got new guys who will have the opportunity to step up and do a good job.
“Luc is one of the best players of Cameroon and Africa.”
Adingono, an assistant coach at Canisius College who took the Cameroon reins last year, is working with 15 players in Lyon but will take only 12 to Athens.
“Guys are trying to absorb everything we are doing,” he said.
“They are excited and are looking forward to starting the competition.”
Adingono admits he and his players will be taking a journey into the unknown when they take on Croatia and Puerto Rico.
“It is true, we never faced a European team,” he said. “I haven‘t got a clue about them.
“It will be a major challenge to fight those two giants, but it will be very interesting.”
Cape Verde is another African team in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament after claiming the bronze medal at the FIBA Africa championship last year in Angola.
The Angolans won last year’s African title to clinch a place at the Beijing Games.
What are the chances of Cameroon or Cape Verde joining them?
“I would love to see that happening,” Adingono said.
“It would mean that Africa is not too far behind those teams. Cape Verde had a good Africa Championship and could do well in Athens.

After failing to win the national basketball championships in May, St. Mary’s Kitende will now turn their focus on at least clinching this year’s Kabaka’s crown, when the tournament gets underway at Lubiri High on July 19. The defending champions will hope to repeat their winning ways that saw them beat Crane High in last year’s final.

Defending champion of the Nigeria domestic women league, First Bank basketball club of Lagos Thursday sealed victory, even with two days to go in the final phase of the Zenith Bank Women League currently on in Lagos.

The Elephant Girls as the bankers are often referred to on Thursday pummeled Sunshine Angels basketball club of Akure by 71-38 points to confirm her pre-season rating.
The Adewumi Aderemi coached side remain the only side that is yet to taste defeat after 25 games with two games left.
The Nigeria Champion, who hopes to do well at the continental outing this year will today (Friday) engage Dolphin basketball club who bounces back to reckoning after Monday shock lose to Nigeria Immigration.
The Wale Aboderin Dolphin roared back to live like a true warrior to pick two important games Wednesday and Thursday to reclaim her second spot behind league leader, First Bank.
Dolphin Wednesday played the game of its life to beat Sunshine Angels by 45-43 points and posted a dramatic 62-57 points win over Delta Force basketball club of Asaba, Thursday in a keenly contested match.
Amazons make a big statement Thursday with a 74-65 points victory over Adolescent Health and Information Project, AHIP basketball club of Kano to give a befitting birthday gift to owner and mentor, Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) who clock 50 years July 3.

Day-7 results:
Nigeria Customs 57, AHIP 67
Plateau Rocks 41, Delta Force 60
Nigeria Immigration 30, First Bank 87
Amazons 43, FCT Angels 51
Sunshine Angels 43, Dolphin 45

Day-8 Results:
FCT Angels 48, Nigeria Customs 61
Plateau Rocks 41, Nigeria Immigration 48
AHIP 65, Amazons 74
First Bank 71, Sunshine Angels 38
Dolphin 62, Delta Force 57

Day-9 Games:
Sunshine Angels Vs Amazons
AHIP Vs Nigeria Immigration
FCT Angels Vs Plateau Rocks
Nigeria Customs Vs Delta Force
First Bank Vs Dolphin

Visiting Savannah Conference team, Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi will today (Thursday) continue its road trip campaign to the Atlantic conference when it take on Ebun Comets basketball club of Lagos at 19.00 hours in Lagos.

The Bauchi-based side who has a record of 1-2 with one unresolved match against Delta Force (Men) basketball club of Asaba looks forward to a real test as it confront the Comets who has gone through some bashing lately.
Comets who lost two straight games in the premier and Lagos city leagues to Union Bank and Whales basketball clubs seek a lifeline against the Hawks from Bauchi.
The Hawks will round-off its adventure to the Atlantic conference Saturday against Union Bank basketball club in a game that promises to be a thriller.

....Local derby in Kano, Jos

The city of Kano will be agog as two home sides Kano Pillars and AHIP basketball clubs entertain their fans in a Savannah conference Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF organized Premier league.
Pundits are giving it to the Pillars due to the players on their roster and experience but the AHIP side are capable of springing surprises.
Another local derby will be in Jos, Plateau State capital when Tapgun Rockets host city favorites, Plateau Peaks basketball club.
And in Lagos fans will be treated to the best of basketball action as three top games on the bill on Sunday.
At 14.00 hours Nigeria Customs basketball club (Men) will do battle against Ebun Comets basketball club.
The match promises to be a thriller especially with the return of runaway Customs experience off-guard, Abdulrahman Mohammed and point guard Priwitt Gagara, Comets led by Dennis Ebikoro are surely in for a big challenge.
And at 16.00 hours Islanders look forward to a pay-back period against visiting Delta Force (Men) basketball club of Asaba.
The first meeting between the two side had ended 71-70 in favour of the Asaba-based Force while the last match of the day comes alive at 18.00 hours between 2007 Lagos City league finalists, Union Bank and Dodan Warriors with the Warriors spoiling for a pay-back after losing to the bankers in the first leg.

by Olusegun Ikuesan

Seven Stars advanced to the Santiago South championships finals, by beating Predio/CVT 75 to 56. The third and final game was
played Wednesday the 2 in the Vava Duarte Pavilion.
In the best of 3 series, Seven Stars won 2-1. They will now face ABC, who has been waiting for more than a month for the other finalist.
Predio dominate the first two periods, but the second half was totally controlled by the Seven Stars, who managed to control the game and show their supremacy over Predio.
With two consecutive wins, Seven Stars confirmed that they were the better team, while Predio had to be content with their only win which came from office.
The first game of the best of three for the Santiago South champ ship will start Saturday, the 5 of July in the Vava Duarte Pavilion.

The second tour of the competition in Ouagadougou started on the June 18, 2008. after that, we'll which team will pla the semi finals against the 2 best team of the west league (Bobo Dioulasso, ligue des hauts bassins)

June 18, 2008

EFO # RCK
Yves ARISTE and Ben Sada DABIRE didnt give any chance to the stars of EFO. Ben Sada as point guard (as last year) and Yves played faster; the public enjoyed their combinations and their passes. The stars played well in the first quarter, but they had no bench. Osa hurt himself the last weekend and Eric SALOU (the Stalion) hurt himself during this match (second quarter).
Score: 39-58 for RCK
Best scorer: Ben Sada DABIRE (RCK) with 15 points



June 19, 2008

- ASTY # Kadiogo Bulls
Score: 34-57 for Kadiogo Bulls;
Best scorer: Pel KONE with 18 points

- Faso Warriors # AS-Sonabhy
Score: 29-66 for AS-Sonabhy;
Best scorer: Ren OUEDRAOGO with 11 points


June 21, 2008
- Kadiogo Bulls # Faso Warriors
Score: 39-25 for Kadiogo Bulls,
Best scorer: Isaac PALENFO (Kadiogo Bulls) with 12 points


- AS-Sonabel # EFO
Judickael OUANGO, who was in Italy for studies went back. He played this match with the stars of EFO. This guard was selected in our national team and he played in 1998 against RCI, Ghana and Togo during the Tournoi de la Solidarit in the zone III. He is a good player but without training, he couldnt do anything. At the halftime, the score was 24-25 for the stars. In the third quarter the center Bayala (electricians) was fouled out for 5 fouls. We thought that the stars would do the difference with Judickael who was very offensive in the restrictive area. But since this time, the stars did many fouls and the point guard Stephane ZARE beat Norbert PARKOUDA. The referee fouled him out. It became very hard for the stars. In the fourth quarter, Sam scored two times at two points and Regis after his entry scored his shoot at three points. Without Eric SALOU and Osa NGAKA, the stars lost the match in the fourth quarter. It will be very hard for this team to qualify for the finals.
Score: 51-48 for AS-Sonabel
Best scorer: Ibrahim OUEDRAGO (AS-Sonabel) with 14 points



June 22, 2008
- AS-Sonabhy # ASTY
Score: 55-44 for AS-Sonabhy;
Best scorer: Aboubacar SARA (AS-Sonabhy) and Ludo SIMPORE (ASTY) with 18 points everyone.


June 25, 2008
- EFO # Kadiogo Bulls
Score: 30-60 for Kadiogo Bulls
Best scorer: Cdric CONMBO (Kadiogo Bulls) with 24 points


June 26, 2008
- Warriors # RCK
Score: 38-62 for RCK
Best scorer: Yves ARISTE (RCK) with 13 points

- ASTY # AS-Sonabel
Score: 40-67 for AS-Sonabel
Best scorer: Alain DIASSO (AS-Sonabel) with 16 points


June 28, 2008
- RCK # ASTY
Score: 20-00 for RCK

- EFO # AS-Sonabhy
Score: 48-57 for AS-Sonabhy
Best scorer: Aboubacar SARA 33 points

June 29, 2008
- AS-Sonabel # Warriors
Score: 59-41 for AS-Sonabel
Best scorer: Alfred TAPSOBA (AS-Sonabel) with 22 points


July 02, 2008
- ASTY # Warriors
Score: 58-76 for Warriors
Best scorer: Michael BAZIE (ASTY) with 23 points

from africabasket.com

by Julius Mbaraga
Kigali

Burundi's renowned basketball clubs will attempt to make an improved showing at this year's Liberation day tournament which gets under today until Sunday at Amahoro stadium indoor courts.

Dynamo and New star basketball clubs arrived in Kigali on Wednesday and will battle against Rwanda's heavy weights APR (defending champions), CSK A, National University of Rwanda (NUR) and Kigali Institute of Education (KIE) for the top prize in the three-day tournament.
However, league defending champions Marine have not been drafted into the tournament after missing the first round which was staged last weekend.
"It's unfortunate that they (Marine) will not participate because they are the best team in the country.
"They play attractive basketball and it is obvious that their presence could have spiced up the tournament," a close source to the local basketball governing body acknowledged yesterday.
On the road to last year's title, APR dislodged Dynamo at the semi-final before ousting local rivals Espoir in the final.

After one particularly rich year in revival, MANGA BASKET much makes proof of maturity in her organization, in her recruitments and especially in the discipline of her game, and take back of Gabon the two bigger titles.
It is necessary to come back behind fifteen years, with the team of Ndzimba Basket, to see a team with such a performance.
2008 will be an unforgettable year for players of MANGA BASKET and all the population that resides in this small mining city of Gabon; When MANGA BASKET takes back the Cup of Gabon to the month of March, no one would have bet for a second victory on the elite national championship.
The luck of the calendar of this championship made so that the last match of the season is a decisive meeting for the race to the national title. Indeed, the Saturday 28 June 2008 to 19hoo, the meeting MANGA BASKET - STADE MANDJI must decided that will be champion of Gabon; STADE MANDJI team, with four titles of Gabon, arrived three days before this last meeting of the championship, for a preparation worthy of a big club.
During the first two quarter times the two teams are in observation: the first is in favor of the team of MANGA BASKET (23-20), the second is taken back by the team of Stade Mandji (17-18).
During the 3rd and the 4th quarter times, STADE MANDJI team lowers arms and MANGA BASKET assures the spectacle, at the end of the meeting the score is 79 to 59 either 20 points of gap for MANGA BASKET.
A victory that allows the mining of Moanda, to be for the first time, of her history Champion of Gabon.
The MASRABE pivot (24 points; 11 rebounds; 11 decisive pass; 5 interceptions) and his strong wing, MADAMA Martial (15 points; 11 rebounds; 10 decisive pass; 2 interceptions), of MANGA BASKET, give the rhythm of game by the spectacular and efficient actions; of her side the ringleader of game very skilful OTOMBO to shootings to 3 points (18 points, of which 12 to 3 points; 4 rebounds), the wing ABESSOLO (19 points; 6 rebounds) and KOBANGOYE (10 points; 3 rebounds) were players the more in view.