…Sponsorship Is A Key Factor In The Growth Of The Classics – Former NBA Star, Oyedeji
By Maxwell Kumoye
The next edition of the West African Basketball Classics (WABC), will be bigger and better says the initiator of the project Olumide Oyedeji.
The former captain of the Nigeria men’s national team, D’Tigers, reveal that preparations for the next edition of the regional championship is already in full swing.
“The inaugural edition which ended at the weekend in Lagos was all about individual sponsorship and support, so for us to make it bigger we need corporate bodies financial might,” the former NBA star said.
We gathered that the number of clubs to compete for honours in the next edition of West African Basketball Classics (WASC), will likely increase from 6 to 12 teams.
ASPAC and ASPAL from Benin Republic, Swallows of Togo, Ghana’s GRA Braves, Kwara Falcons and Gidi Giants of Nigeria are the teams that participated in the just concluded Classics.
The regular season had phase one and two with the Final Four as the decider.
Gidi Giants of Lagos defeated Association Sportive du Port Autonome de Cotonou of Benin Republic 75-66.
Gidi Giants dropped the second and third quarter with a combined deficit of 4 points after the first quarter ended 14-14. In the fourth and final quarter Gidi Giants secured a 13 points margin win 27-14. (14-14, 17-20, 17-18, 27-14)
Kwara Falcons took the third spot at the expense of ASPAL 73-68.
The West African Basketball Classics which has the backing of FIBA Africa Zone 3, NSIA Banqe and the world governing body of basketball, FIBA, has attracted lots of kind words from basketball stakeholders across the sub region.
The Scribe of FIBA Africa Zone 3, Joe Apu, told FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG that projects like the West African Basketball Classics (WABC), should be encouraged and supported.
He praised the Organizers for putting up a great event like this: “It’s all about good packaging and top quality organization and the slamming and dunking game will come alive.”
The inaugural West Africa Basketball Classics, (WABC), tournament began with a round robin format with five games each in the first two rounds. The first round of matches took place between 24th February and 2nd March in the home of the Swallows of Togo.
The second round took place in Benin Republic in April while the third and final round involving the final Four teams was held between June 5th – 7th in Nigeria.
The championship which is the first of its kind in the sub region is supported by sports wear manufacturer PEAK.
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