The Atlantic Conference All Stars clinched the All Star game sponsored by Multichoice Nigeria and Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) to mark the end of the 2012/13 basketball season.
D’Tigers’ captain Olumide Oyedeji and some A-List musicians and actors took part in the celebrity game. The low-scoring game ended 17-16 in favour of Beat FM All Stars who played against Channel O All Stars.
Popular Musician, Sound Sultan, took home the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award despite ending up on the losing side. Other musicians were Dare Art Alade, MI, Ikechukwu, Skales, Praiz, Teebillz and Steve of JJC.
Beat FM OAP Jimmie, Olisa Adibua were also included in the celebrity match.
After the celebrity game was the 3 point Challenge which Kada Stars 20 year old guard Timothy Kwaor claimed the Winners trophy beating Veterans like Lagos Islanders duo of Seyi Ayodele and Hillary Aigbhokaionde , Union Banks Obum Onya and Dodan Warriors Azuoma Dike.
Twelve Players were selected from premier league club to represent their conferences. The Atlantic conference had the Union Bank trio of Abayomi Oyeniyi ,Moses Daudu and Obum Onya, Lagos Islanders Hillary Aighokaionde ,Kayode Balogun , Ibrahim Okpe and Seyi Ayodele. Azuoma Dike and Oliver Joshua of Dodan Warriorrs, Femi Adekeye (Oluyole Warriors),Victor Anthony (Customs) and Royal Hoopers, Center Solomon Ajegbeyi and the team was coached by Royal Hoopers Ogoh Daudu while in the Savannah Conference, League Champions Kano Pillars had 7 representatives with 5 players and the coach Kano Pillars coach Sanni Mohammed named the Savannah conference stars coach. The 5 players include Final Four MVP Abubakar Usman, Onyeka Okeke, Dele Ademola, Mathew Onmonye and Shehu Mohammed , Mark Mentors supplied 4 players Mike Ohiero, Abdulwahab Yahaya, Dennis Ebikoro, and Nigerian International Stanley Gumut. Others in the Savannah Conference Squad are Kada Stars duo of Sadiq Adedeji and Timothy Kwaor and Chibuzor Njoku.
The game started with the Atlantic Conference stars leading the way 27-25 in the first quarter, however the Savannah conference side responded in the 2nd quarter outscoring their opponents 33-17 to take a 58-44 lead to the Half time break. The 3rd quarter was however high tempo with a host of 3point shots from both sides. Union Banks Obum Onya made three 3 pointers for the Atlantic Conference stars while Abubakar Usman had two back to back 3 pointers for the Savannah Conference Stars in the quarter. There was really nothing to separate both sides in the quarter although the Savannah conference stars still had the advantage going into the final quarter (78-65).
However, the Atlantic Conference stars had the last laugh thanks to Dodan Warriors Guard Azuoma Dike who was 87% from the field leading the Atlantic Conference stars charge to a wild comeback win in the game in final seconds. Azuoma ended up with 20 points and 6 assists, and went home with the Most valuable player Award and a sum of N250,000 cash. Although Union Banks Obum Onya lead the Atlantic Conference stars in scoring with 24 points and 4 rebounds with Victor Anthony of Customs also adding 20 points and 7 rebounds in the famous victory.
Dstv Premier League Final Four MVP Abubakar Usman Lead all scorers on the floor in the game with 28 points and 10 assists on floor despite ending up on the losing side and Mark Mentors Stanley Gumut, the only home based player to star for the Nigerian National Team in the just concluded 2013 Afrobasket in Abidjan scored 15 points adding 5 assists and 7 rebounds for the losing Savannah conference stars. As winners the Atlantic Conference stars went home with a Cash prize of N1,000,000 while the losing side went home with N500,000.
Culled from Afrobasket.
