The 2018 Accra Basketball League (ABL) Men's Division I has concluded with Braves of Customs running away with another league title after blitzing the division's competition. Braves won the league with a flawless run in 16 games.
This marks the time the lower division becomes the center of attention as the Division II tips off later tonight at the Lebanon House Court in Tudu with a pair of games scheduled to open a new chapter in the fight for places in the elite division.
Ten teams will compete in this season's competition including Novas Academy, Tudu Galaxy, Dunk Knights and Panthers who feature later tonight. Novas is set to play Galaxy while Knights take on Panthers in the follow up game.
Swanlakers, Ada Knights, Adabraka CYO, Teshie Rangers, Junior Reformers and Adenta Tusk complete the division's roster. Swanlakers play Ada while CYO takes on Rangers on Saturday, October 20 at the same venue.
A seminar to brief stakeholders will be held prior to the start of the league with referees set to be handed new jerseys for the season. Briefing on new FIBA rules will be conducted with club managers and coaches expected to be in attendance.
Ghana Police Service, Adenta Leopards and Reformers of Prisons qualified from the Division II to Division I last season.
Nungua Coldstore wins 2018 Tema Basketball League - 3 days ago
Nungua Coldstore has won the Tema Community Basketball League for the second time after beating Tema Heat 53-49 in Game 3 of the 2018 Finals Series played on Sunday, December 9 at Tema's Community 4 Court. Coldstore's first trophy win was in 2016 when the side swept Ashaiman Lions in two straight games in the finals but had to work very hard to secure its latest trophy. Nungua trailed in the series after losing 58-63 in Game One. However, a dominant 86-56 win in Game 2 and hard fought w... [read more]
Nungua Coldstore has won the Tema Community Basketball League for the second time after beating Tema Heat 53-49 in Game 3 of the 2018 Finals Series played on Sunday, December 9 at Tema's Community 4 Court.
Coldstore's first trophy win was in 2016 when the side swept Ashaiman Lions in two straight games in the finals but had to work very hard to secure its latest trophy. Nungua trailed in the series after losing 58-63 in Game One.
However, a dominant 86-56 win in Game 2 and hard fought win in Game 3 was all Coldstore needed to win the trophy for the second time in three years. Heat led 47-40 with a few minutes left to play after Fred Yeboah and Karim Awudu hit three point shots on back to back possessions.
However, main star Benjamin Owari fouled out immediately after and his absence gave Coldstore a way back into the game. Emmanuel Wolff, Kofi Agyei and Kwame Opoku scored in the nine point run to retake the lead but Heat Forward Philip Barley missed two free throws to tie the game.
Coldstore scored on the opposite end from the same spot to close out the game and series. Owari was named Most Valuable Player and Coldstore's Kwame Boamah Djan won Defensive Player of the Year and Wendell Otoo won Coach of the Year.
ALHAJI MOHAMMED ADA Blois Basket 41 (ProB) landed experienced 37-year old Ghanian guard Alhaji Mohammed (192-89kg-81, college: Louisville) until february during the medical unavailability of Charles Abouo (196-G/F-89, college: BYU). He played most recently at Alba in Hungarian A Division. In 27 games he averaged 11.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.4apg and 1.2spg last season. Mohammed helped them to make it to the semifinals. He also played 8 games in FIBA Europe Cup where he had 5.6ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.5a... [read more]
ALHAJI MOHAMMED
ADA Blois Basket 41 (ProB) landed experienced 37-year old Ghanian guard Alhaji Mohammed (192-89kg-81, college: Louisville) until february during the medical unavailability of Charles Abouo (196-G/F-89, college: BYU). He played most recently at Alba in Hungarian A Division. In 27 games he averaged 11.8ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.4apg and 1.2spg last season. Mohammed helped them to make it to the semifinals. He also played 8 games in FIBA Europe Cup where he had 5.6ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.5apg. The previous (16-17) season Mohammed played at Targu Mures (Liga Nationala) in league. In 10 games he recorded very impressive stats: 16.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.9apg and 1.3spg. He also played 6 games in FIBA Europe Cup where he got remarkable 16.2ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.8apg and 1.3spg. Among other achievements Mohammed won Hungarian League championship title in 2017. He received also Eurobasket.com All-Romanian League Guard of the Year award in 2014 and 2016. Mohammed is a very experienced player. He has quite traveled the world as his pro career brought him to seven different countries on three different continents (Europe, Asia and of course North America). Mohammed has played previously professionally in Germany, Holland, Iran (Kashan), Kosovo (Prishtina), Kuwait (Al Kuwait), Spain (Carramimbre) and France (Limoges CSP & Sluc Nancy).
Mohammed attended University of Louisville until 2004 and it will be his 15th (!!!) season in pro basketball. His game is described as:
Mohammed is often addressed by his team and the public address announcer as "Mr. Mohammed," despite his youth and greenness in the professional basketball milieu.
The moniker is a tip of the hat in respect to what Mohammed brings to each and every minute he logs in a game. hustle.
Though Mohammed is, by all respects, in his rookie season, one must make a mental note that he is at the end of his rookie season, with 45 games under his waistband. Having only spent three years under Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville recommended by his older brother, Detroit Pistons Nazr Mohammed, the young man from Chicago, Illinois has taken the doors set ajar for him and blown them wide open.
His athleticism exudes a combination of confidence, grace and raw power when on display, and he has been given free reign to explode in ball games, often bringing onlookers to their feet, and turning the heads of any who may have had doubts about his experience.
Mohammed's strengths are his athleticism, knowledge of the game and his willingness to listen to coaches and grow into the superstardom he is poised for. His defensive game has evolved into one of the grittiest around the league, when he isn't focused solely on offensive feats.
His opportunities are very much the traits that play into his strengths. He could better himself to practice patience when handling the ball, yet it is this unabashed initiative that often results in his poster-inspiring moves and finishes. He could, with work and focus, evolve into one of the better backcourt defenders in his class once he understands how easily his athleticism flows without being forced.
Any team that overlooks Mohammed is overlooking potential explosiveness and a player that will put people in the stands. Many overlooked the likes of Michael Jordan and LeBron James, instead criticizing them early on for their lack of defensive prowess and focusing on their scoring abilities.
Jordan went on to become an All-Defensive player in his storied career and James is already disproving doubters. Mohammed, in time, will as well.
Sometimes it pays to grow up in a city watching one of the NBA's greatest ever. the benefits are evident in Mohammed's God-given talents and rapidly-evolving abilities.
The Tema Community Basketball League trophy will be won on the final day of competition in the 2018 season on Sunday, December 9 at the Tema Community 4 Court either by Nungua Coldstore or Tema Heat. The series is tied after two games after Heat rallied late in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to clinch a 63-58 win in Game One. Heat trailed for long periods in the game but got crucial points from the free throw line from Center Prosper Dorsu and Forward Benjamin Owari to clinch th... [read more]
The Tema Community Basketball League trophy will be won on the final day of competition in the 2018 season on Sunday, December 9 at the Tema Community 4 Court either by Nungua Coldstore or Tema Heat.
The series is tied after two games after Heat rallied late in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to clinch a 63-58 win in Game One. Heat trailed for long periods in the game but got crucial points from the free throw line from Center Prosper Dorsu and Forward Benjamin Owari to clinch the win.
In Game 2, Coldstore came out with vengeance and dominated play en route to an 86-56 big win over Heat in a game the 2016 League Champions won all four quarters and led by as many 30 points. It was the first game for Shooting Guard Jonathan Walker who missed virtually the entire season due to a leg injury.
Heat has played both games in the series without experienced Point Guard Patrick Gomerli who is participating in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Zone Three qualifiers in Benin with Braves of Customs. Braves final game will be played a day before Game 3 in Tema making it very likely he won't play in Game 3.
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