Premier Basketball League Final  Four Dunks Off In PH …Sports Commissioner Donates N1m To Hoopers

The 2023 NBBF Premier Basketball League Final Four  which commenced yesterday at the Port Harcourt basketball Court saw Rivers Hoopers beat Gboko City Chiefs of Benue State 67-62 in the second game of the day.
The competition was witnessed by huge crowd including the Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Christopher Green and top government functionaries.
The game which was keenly contested saw the Hoopers running away in the first quarter but the resilient Gboko Chiefs battled gamely to tag along finely, only for the hosts to rely on technical superiority to edge them late in the last quarter
Speaking with sports journalists shortly after the game, Rivers State Commissioner for Sports Barr Green expressed joy over the good performance of Rivers Hoopers in the opening game.
He stated that he was very happy for bringing the basketball tournament to Port Harcourt, adding that in the history of basketball in Nigeria, Rivers State was the first state to play basketball.
“ I am very happy that we were able to bring the action home to Port Harcourt.
“ Of course if you know the history of basketball in Nigeria you know that basketball was first play in Rivers State.
“ I cannot remember when we hosted any tournament of this magnitude. So, hosting the Premier Basketball League Final Four was a challenge to me but I have to take the step and by the grace of God, the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara did not think otherwise”
“ In fact, the Governor wants more sporting activities in the state so that the youth will be fully engaged,” Barr Green said.
The number one sports man in the state said that the tournament would see a lot of  youth off the streets, adding that in watching the game the youth will also learn a lot about the game.
“ Again, the kind of basketball game that is ongoing is motivational for those young ones coming up and so we are going to build from here.
“ The truth of the matter is that Rivers Hoopers’ performance was very credible” he said.
He donated the sum of One Million Naira (1,000,000.00) to the team for winning their opening game of the Final Four. He also doled out 200,000 Naira to the supporters for their massive support to the team.
He assured Rivers people that Rivers Hooper will win the final four of the competition.
Meanwhile in the first game of the day Customer basketball club of Abuja defeated Hoops and Read of Lagos 67-51.

By: Tonye Orabere & Kiadum Edookor