•As 17 teams jostle for National Div. 1

By Jude Opara

Apparently worried by the low interest of basketball teams from the South East in the National Divisional 1 Championship as well as the premiership, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has commenced moves to make them begin to embrace the sport.

President of the NBBF, Tijjani Umar who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while briefing the media ahead of the 2016 National Division 1 championship said the federation has given a wild card to Anambra Flickers to be part of the games as a way of encouraging other teams from the region to embrace the sport.

Umar regretted that in the Atlantic Conference were the South East falls in, it is mainly teams from Lagos and states in the South West that usually take part, a development he said has deprived the country and the region the opportunity of discovering quality players that abound there.

The NBBF boss further recalled that in the 90s there used to be such formidable basketball teams like the Imo Villains who held their own; even as he insisted that the clubs from the area can re-enact such feats.

“We have decided to expand the basketball footprint by bringing in Anambra team to participate. The idea is to encourage the teams from the South East who have been absent from our activities over the years.”

Meanwhile, 17 teams have concluded registration for the National Divisional 1 championship which dunks off today at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium.