Basketball

Igoche Mark Hails Unstoppable D’Tigress for Fourth Straight Afrobasketball Title, Salutes MO Arena Boss

Published

2 years ago

August 6, 2023

Mr. Igoche Mark, the initiator of Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship has
poured encomiums on Nigeria’s senior women basketball team, D’Tigress, for their victory at the 2023 Afrobasket championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

Defending champions, D’Tigress defeated their Senegalese counterparts 84 – 74 in the final of the championship to win their fourth consecutive title.

An elated Mark, said that D’Tigress victory was confirmation of her dominance of the sport in Africa.

He commended the team for their superlative performance in the tournament and praised them for doing the nation proud.

“Clearly now D’Tigress dominance of the sport is indisputable.

“This is the evidence that Nigeria’s women basketball can be ranked as a World-class programme.

“We have to sustain this momentum. This is remarkable, winning the Afrobasketball Championships for an unprecedented fourth time, despite the challenges before the championship.This singular action typifies the Nigerian spirit.

“I salute the team (D’Tigress) for their professional commitment and execution by putting smiles on the faces of Nigerians.They have done the nation proud against all odds,” Mark stated.
Mark who was full of praise towards one of Nigeria’s top basketball investor, Mohammed Shehu, whose state of the artt basketball arena served as camping ground for the D’Tigress before the Afrobasket Championship in Rwanda.

“I’ll also like to appreciate and congratulate Mohammed Shehu for the successful completion of the state of the art(Mo Arena), a befitting arena in Abuja and one of the best, if not the best in Nigeria, where our ladies camped before setting out to achieve this great feat.” Mark concludes.

The D’Tigress finished with significant victories over DR Congo, Egypt, Mozambique and host Rwanda before beating Senegal in Saturday’s final.

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Basketball

Bauchi FA Chairman Patrick Pascal Honoured at Be Happy Basketball Tournament

Published

2 months ago

January 21, 2025

The Gleamer

Bauchi State Football Association Chairman, Patrick Pascal, was honored at the recently concluded Be Happy Basketball Tournament in Bauchi. The annual event, sponsored by former basketball international Danjuma Maijama’a Wunti, brought together over 13 basketball teams from across Nigeria for a week of exciting competition.

The 2025 edition of the tournament saw Suns Basketball Academy of Jos emerge as champions, clinching the top prize of ₦500,000. Adamawa Stars of Yola finished second, while Mak-Town Flyers of Makurdi claimed third place, earning ₦200,000 for their efforts.

Several standout players received individual accolades:

•   Most Valuable Player (MVP): Rayyan Salis (Suns Basketball Academy, Jos).
•   Most Improved Player: Modupe Lawrence (Mak-Town Flyers, Makurdi).
•   Best Defensive Player: Thomas Abo (Mak-Town Flyers, Makurdi).
•   Highest Scorer: Rayyan Salis (Suns Basketball Academy).
•   Best 3-Point Shooter: Solomon Iliya (Be Happy Stars, Bauchi).

Teams from across Nigeria took part, including Maktown Flyers (Makurdi), Joe Geez (Jos), Adamawa Stars (Yola), Gamji (Maiduguri), Elite Basketball Club (Takum), Suns Basketball Academy (Jos), Abba Gida Gida (Kano), Katsina United (Katsina), D Block Basketball Club (Kaduna), Yankari Kings (Bauchi), The Cubs Basketball Club (Bauchi), and Be Happy Stars (Bauchi).

Speaking on his recognition, Patrick Pascal expressed gratitude to the tournament sponsor, Danjuma Maijama’a Wunti, for his commitment to youth empowerment and development through sports. He praised the players for their remarkable display of skill and teamwork throughout the competition, highlighting the event’s importance in fostering talent and unity.

The Be Happy Basketball Tournament continues to grow in stature as a major platform for discovering and nurturing basketball talent across Nigeria.

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