Traditionally, the male premier basketball league tips off around March and spans for about four to five months with each team playing a total of 14 games in regular season (7 home games and 7 away games). Last season, the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) had to improvise as there were only 5 teams in the Atlantic Conference. This saw teams play the same opponent twice a week leading to a total of 16 games for the regular season for the affected Atlantic Conference teams. However, the NBBF is making a huge jump from previous years by announcing a total of 28 regular season games for the 2017 Season of the Premier Basketball League. There will be four rounds of action in regular season with each team playing against all the other teams in the conference in each round. At the end of the four rounds, each team would have played 2 home and 2 away games against every other team each respective conference. In the past few years, basketball stakeholders have expressed displeasure over the few number of games in the league arguing that it is not enough for the development of the players, the teams and the league as a whole. This move from the NBBF will be the first time in recent years that the teams will have a sizable number of games and the reaction from club representatives is as expected. "This is a good one. It is good for the players and teams. With the number of games, players now have enough time to understand themselves, master their plays and perform better. Teams can also properly for the season, come up with revenue generating ideas and increase fan attendance. The grand finale is in September which means the top two teams that will represent the country at the continental championship won't be rusty when its time for qualifiers" - Azeez Bello, Secretary of the Kwara State Basketball Association. In the news bit released by the Rivers Hoopers, the Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu also expressed his delight with new format. 'It is way better than what we had last season because we are playing more games, the more the games the better it is. By the time the players are getting into form, that's when they find out the games are over after playing 16 games in the regular season. But with 28 games, you have lots and lots of opportunity to correct all your wrongs that you may find. If it were to be more than that, it would have been better but we will make do with what we have right now' Not all teams pay their players all year round. A number of them pay only for the duration of the league. With this 2017 format, such players get to earn to little bit more. Making it to the Final Eight Playoffs gives them an additional month's pay including other allowances and match bonuses. Although, this is a good initiative, it can get better. What we would like to see is for games to be played across conferences. Teams from the Atlantic Conference need to travel to the Savannah to play teams there and vice versa. Not only will this increase the number of games to 30, it will also increase the competitiveness and fan experience. The Conference Six Playoffs and the Final Eight are played in Lagos. So the Savannah fans never get to see the Atlantic teams play and the Atlantic teams do not get the opportunity to host the Savannah teams in their home court. Coach Odaudu feels the same way; "I would have preferred more games like we had 8 or 9 years ago when the road trip was in existence where you have to go to the Savannah Conference and still play all the teams there. It would have been better if we had opportunity to face the teams in the Savannah Conference before the final. I am hoping they will work on it in the near future and the road trip will be reintroduced.' The 2017 calendar is as follows; Regular Season - April 13 to August 5 2017 All Star Weekend - June 17 2017 Conference Six Playoffs - August 14 to 18 2017 Final Eight - September 4 to 9 2017 Championship Game - September 9 2017. Courtesy of: bballnaija.com
Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Serie A) agreed terms with 22-year old American (has also Nigerian passport) forward Emmanuel Omogbo (203-95kg-95, agency: Mansfield and Associates). He just graduated from Colorado State University (NCAA). In 36 games he had 13.6ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.7apg and 1.1spg last season. Omogbo helped them to make it to the final after they ended regular season as second best team. Quite impressive season as he was named to All-MWC 1st Team. As mentioned above he is just out of... [read more]
Consultinvest VL Pesaro (Serie A) agreed terms with 22-year old American (has also Nigerian passport) forward Emmanuel Omogbo (203-95kg-95, agency: Mansfield and Associates). He just graduated from Colorado State University (NCAA). In 36 games he had 13.6ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.7apg and 1.1spg last season. Omogbo helped them to make it to the final after they ended regular season as second best team. Quite impressive season as he was named to All-MWC 1st Team. As mentioned above he is just out of the college and it will be his first season as a pro. Omogbo won NJCAA D1 District V championship title in 2015. He has played previously for another Italian team Kiski School.
Josh-Emmanuel Akognon's 43 points make him top Nigerian player abroad of the week - 3 days ago
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Here is the weekly review of the top performing Nigerian players, who play currently abroad. This week's number one is an international point guard Josh-Emmanuel Akognon (180-86). He led Henan to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Jiangsu Lions in the Chinese NBL (second division) in Wednesday night's game.
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Here is the weekly review of the top performing Nigerian players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international point guard Josh-Emmanuel Akognon (180-86, college: CS Fullerton, currently plays in China). He led Henan to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Jiangsu Lions (1-11) 134-119 in the Chinese NBL (second division) in Wednesday night's game.
Akognon was MVP of the game. He scored 43 points (!!!), grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 9 assists in 46 minutes on the court.
Henan Shedianlaojiu (10-2) is placed first in the NBL.
It was his team's seventh consecutive victory in a row.
Akognon has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 38.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 4.5apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 56.9%(78-137), 3FGP: 38.6% and FT: 93.5%(101-108) in 12 games he played so far.
Akognon has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.
He played for the Nigerian senior national team one years ago.
#2. Second place goes to an experienced former international guard Michael Efevberha (193-84, college: CS Northridge, currently plays in China). He contributed to Chongqing's victory against the closely-ranked Beijing (4-8) 130-121 in the Chinese NBL (second division) on Wednesday night.
Efevberha had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 9 assists in 43 minutes.
Chongqing Sanhai Lanling (6-6) is placed tenth in the NBL.
Efevberha has relatively good stats this year: 14.5ppg, 8.0rpg, 5.0apg, 3FGP: 18.8% in two games.
He is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.
Efevberha played for the Nigerian national team in 2009.
#3. The Nigerian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Jeleel Akindele (216-83, agency: BeoBasket, college: Chicago St., currently plays in Dominican Republic). He contributed to a Metros STGO's victory against the second-ranked Huracanes PP (1-2) 97-83 in the Dominican Rep. LNB last Tuesday.
Akindele scored 13 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group North. Metros de Santiago (3-0) is placed first.
So far his team won all three games in the Second Stage.
This year Akindele's overall stats are: 9.0ppg, 5.3rpg, 2FGP: 76.9% in three games.
He played for the Nigerian national team eight years ago.
#4. Guard Henry Uhegwu (191-82, college: S.Utah, currently plays in Colombia) helped Fast Break edge the sixth-ranked Piratas (9-17) 92-90 in a derby game in the Colombian Liga DirecTV in Wednesday night's game.
He scored 11 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 33 minutes.
Fast Break (23-1) is placed first in the Liga DirecTV.
It was his team's consecutive victory in a row.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This year Uhegwu has relatively solid stats: 12.1ppg, 2.8rpg and 3.0apg in 23 games.
He has both American and Nigerian nationalities.
Uhegwu used to play for the Nigerian national team
back in 2007.
The list of other players, who all have Nigerian passport but never been selected to any of Nigerian national teams:
#1.Chris Otule (211-C-90, college: Marquette, currently plays in China) was the major contributor in Henan's victory against the sixth-ranked Fujian (7-5) 125-114 in the Chinese NBL (second division) last Sunday.
Otule recorded a double-double by scoring 34 points and getting 13 rebounds. He also added 3 assists and 6 blocks; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Otule's third season in pro basketball. Henan Shedianlaojiu (10-2) is placed first in the NBL.
It was his team's seventh consecutive victory in a row.
Otule has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 24.3ppg, 16.2rpg, 1.8apg and 4.8bpg.
Otule has a dual citizenship: Nigerian and American.
#2.Chinemelu Elonu (206-F/C-87, college: Texas A&M, currently plays in Puerto Rico). He could not help Capitanes (19-17) to beat Santeros (25-11).
Elonu scored 8 points and grabbed 9 rebounds.
Capitanes was defeated 89-82 on the road by the leading Santeros.
Elonu's overall stats this season are: 3.0ppg and 5.0rpg.
#3.Princeton Onwas (198-G-93, college: San Jose St., currently plays in Australia) led Brisbane Capitals to a victory against the fourth-ranked Sunshine CR (8-4) 79-72 in the Australian State League (second division) on Sunday night.
Onwas scored 13 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 3 blocks.
Brisbane Capitals (10-2) are placed second in QBL group.
There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Onwas has very high stats. He averages: 17.7ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.8apg, 1.1bpg and 1.9spg.
Onwas is another player who holds two passports: Nigerian and American.
Obi Emegano (ex Polfarmex Kutno) joins Rouen - 3 days ago
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SPO Rouen Basket (ProB) agreed terms with 24-year old British-Nigerian guard Obi Emegano (190-98kg-93, college: ORU). He played last season at Polfarmex Kutno in Polish PLK league. In 11 games he had 5.2ppg and 1.5rpg. Emegano also played that season for Novipiu Casale in Italian Serie A where in 9 games he recorded 11.4ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.6spg. The list of the past achievements is quite long as among others his team made it to the Summit League Tournament Semifinals in 2015. Emegano was al... [read more]
SPO Rouen Basket (ProB) agreed terms with 24-year old British-Nigerian guard Obi Emegano (190-98kg-93, college: ORU). He played last season at Polfarmex Kutno in Polish PLK league. In 11 games he had 5.2ppg and 1.5rpg. Emegano also played that season for Novipiu Casale in Italian Serie A where in 9 games he recorded 11.4ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.6spg. The list of the past achievements is quite long as among others his team made it to the Summit League Tournament Semifinals in 2015. Emegano was also voted NABC All-District 12 1st Team in 2016 at his college time. Emegano graduated from Oral Roberts University in 2016 and it is his second season as a professional player.
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