Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The ADM Basketball team from Enugu, on Friday won the third edition of the Sports, Music and Culture (SMAC) Basketball Tournament, tagged “basketball redefined” in Enugu.
At the final match, played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, ADM defeated Black Tigers Basketball team 12-6.
The tournament, which was sponsored by a basketball enthusiast, Arinze Nnaji, had 16 teams from Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu participating.
The Hawks, another team from Enugu, beat Ebonyi team 12-11 in the third-place match.
The winner went home with N100,000, the second-placed team N50,000 while the third-place winner pocketed N30,000 and the Most Valuable Player (MVP), James Osazele, smiled home with N30,000.
Meanwhile, 3 points shootout winner, Chukwuebuka Nwene, went home with N30,000 and the Slam Dunk winner, Victor Akachukwu, was rewarded with N20,000 respectively.
Speaking after the match, ADM player Fabian Okpara, said the competition gave the players opportunity to test the tactics they learned at the training.
“Basketball in Enugu State is dying and thank God for the sponsor who had made things happen for the past three years.
“It has been up to two years since we participated in a competition sponsored by any government,” he said.
“We won the tournament because, we believe in each other and worked for each other and that was why we played a good basketball,” he added.
In his remarks, the sponsor of the competition, Mr Nnaji, said that this year’s edition was up to the expectations.
He noted that the players needed more training to build up their energy and stamina which will make the game much better.
Nnaji urged other sports lovers to invest in their choice sports to make a difference and by discovering hidden talents for harnessing.
He called for grassroots sports development from the sport administrators in the state which will make them relevant to the youths.
Enugu State Basketball Coach, Chiedozie Nwoye, described sports as a tool and unifying force that makes youths to be smart.
He said all the players that participated at the event are all champions, irrespective of the outcome of the competition for their teams.
Nwoye thanked the sponsor for expanding the competition at the third edition, noting that the first and second editions did not reward the third-placed team and the Most Valuable player.
