JaBA head says players, sponsors pleased with NBL season
PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) Ajani Williams is asserting that while the just-concluded National Basketball League (NBL) powered by Flow was far from perfect “the high point was seeing the satisfaction of the outer conferences participating effectively and stating that next year they will double their efforts”.
Tivoli Wizards were crowned NBL champions after winning the best-of-three national finals 2-0, beating Majesty Gardens, whose Kemar McLeish was awarded the League MVP.
The 6ft-10in Williams, a former NBA player, contends that though his association and the valued sponsors “know there is a vast room for improvement… the players are my biggest metre stick.
“Their comments mean the most to me and they have all been very effusive in their pride and joy with this year’s competition. It gave me great pleasure to see them indoors and live, not just on TV in Jamaica but across the region and I think that players like (Andrew) Whilby (of Tivoli Wizards) and others have a chance to play pro internationally,” he explained.
Williams pointed out that the sponsorship with Flow, Malta and others “was a model of how a public-private partnership can work and showed that confidence from the Minister of Sports and marketing head of Flow was well
worth it.”
Amidst the tough economic cycle, he said the NBL “keeps men active and striving for something while being team-oriented” and “drives a small basketball economy from referees to vendors and many jobs were created”.
However, Williams admitted that there was a need “to increase human resources… as it is difficult for many to give so much time day in day out as a full-time job, though the heart is willing”.
He also cited the need to have better facilities across the island, more coaches at both the NBL and high schools, and scholarships for players.
Williams accepts B+ grade of the 2009 NBL.
Meanwhile Decasta Swaby of Nain More-ups was the league top assists with 55, Leroy Lawrence of Granville Jaguars topped the rebounds with 102, while Jermaine Rerrie of Catherine Stars All Stars was adjudged the
league’s top blocker with 27.
Vivian Spence of Arnett Gardens was the NBL’s three-pointer with 30 points, while Oral Francis of Team Aaah led the free throws with 23 points.
