Raptors Basketball Academy have won the 2022 OBN Hoop Summit after overcoming Ebun Comets in a keenly contested final on Saturday.
Played at the OBN Academy at Ajah, Lagos, Raptors won 72 points to 66 to emerge champions of the second edition.
In the third place game which was also decided on Saturday, Newsong defeated OBN Elite 61 – 51.
After the games, trophies, medals and cash rewards were given out.
For emerging champions Raptors got ₦250,000, runners-up Ebun Comets received ₦200,000 and Newsong were rewarded with ₦150,000.
Love Baka of Raptors emerged the Most Valuable Player at this year’s edition.
Present on the final day of the one week tournament, were Senior Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of Lagos State, Adetola Salau and Acting Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate in Nigeria, Jeanne Clark.
And speaking after the conclusion of the tournament, OBN founder and former NBA Star, Obinna Ekezie, said:”This year’s edition was really exciting, the championship game was very close, Raptors Academy and Ebun Comets. I’m very excited about the level of talent that’s participating in the league and I’m sure looking at the kids everyone is really excited the coaches dis a wonderful job.
“I want to commend my own team for putting up a wonderful Summer League and Hoop Summit and we are looking forward to doing this again next year.“
Ekezie expressed his delight following the development of the players at this year’s edition.
“What excite me most is the development of the players. You can see the game is a lot more organised, the skill level is improving and that is really what we want to do, we want to continue improving the skill level of these kids, the more they play organised basketball and have organised competitions like this the better they will become every year.”
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And looking forward to the next edition in 2023, he said:“Obviously next year, we doing it every year at the same time in August with the Hoop Summit 2023 and then the Summer League start in June.”
On her part, Clark highlighted the importance of a tournament like the Hoop Summit to the development of kids.
“We are happy to partner with OBN. It takes dedication, leadership, communication and team work. These are the things that we need to encourage all of Nigerian youths and the United States is proud to be part of it.
“We view sport as a tool and it helps you to develop many important skills that you have. We don’t want them to be running around with their time, we want them to find purpose and sport is one of those purposes that contributes to the many skills that I have laid out.“
And according to the MVP of the tournament, Baka, he thanked OBN for providing the platform for him to exhibit his talent.
“I feel good and I want to say a big thank you to my teammates because it was only by good team work that’s why we got here today and I want to say thank you to OBN.
“This will help push me forward and it is going to help me in my career and I will continue to move forward.”
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