THE 2012 season of the Flow National Basketball League is off to an explosive start as last year’s top rivals Tivoli Wizards and Majesty Gardens face off in the opening match at the University of Technology (UTech) auditorium on Saturday, April 21.

The two join 28 other teams, six more than last season, for the coveted title of the national basketball league champions.

New to the competition is the Western Basketball Association Champions, Lucea Flames who are gunning to dethrone national champions Tivoli Gardens Wizards who defeated Majesty Gardens Legends 2-1 in the best of three final in July last year.

Sporting enthusiasts are also set to have a riveting season with increased opportunities to keep up with the match scores and updates. Social media will be abuzz with Facebook and Twitter promotions and updates, games, competitions and activities at the matches for the fans.

President of the Jamaica Basketball Association, Ajani Williams welcomes Flow’s continued support of the sport of basketball in Jamaica, and reiterated that the synergy will continue to foster good things.

“With basketball still growing at a very fast pace in Jamaica, with players in the NBA, interest is very high and a ratio of 47,000 football local fans to 36,000 NBA local fans, which is only 1.3 to 1 ratio, Jamaica Basketball Association is thrilled that Flow, providing fast Internet services and high-quality cable programming would help satisfy and unlock the local demand for basketball in Jamaica and the growing appetite for local quality content.”

Williams added that this year’s competition will look to outdo the 2009 and 2011 seasons and give local fans, sports lovers and the entire family the chance to watch the developing game either at home on TV or at the venues, the UTech and the University of the West Indies.

Denise Williams, director, corporate and government affairs, anticipates a highly competitive season with even greater value for both participants and fans. “We are committed to working with JABA to improve and promote this growing sport as Jamaica establishes itself in line with other international leagues. We are happy to help promote the sport across the island and create more avenues for exposure through our technology whether it is through Flow TV or on the Internet.”

Broadband service provider Flow returns as title sponsor of the NBL for the second of a three-year sponsorship agreement valued at $27 million.

The latest news has come at a time when Jamaica’s basketball is gaining international recognition. A number of players who have participated in the league have earned scholarships to US colleges and gone on to play in the hugely successful and popular National Basketball Association (NBA) in the USA.

Flow NBL Mandeville Pythons player Neveij Walters, formerly of Belair Academy, is one of the many players that have earned overseas scholarships through their schools and scouting camps. He attends the College of Eastern Utah where he is now graduating with an Associate’s Degree.

Williams reiterated Flow’s belief in the power of sports to transform lives and noted the company’s continued support of community-based and national sports programmes including the National Basketball League, Flow/ESPN football clinics, Extreme Spin Table Tennis and the National Knock-Out Football Championship, the Flow Champions Cup.