The Nigeria Basketball Federation National Division 2 Championships Match Day 1 games were played on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria. The Highflyers of Benin City defeated Books & Ball with a 52-47 win, while Favour Arena suffered a 48-70 loss in the hands of Raptors Academy.
The Highflyers Basketball team of Benin City is participating in the ongoing 2022/2023 Nigerian National Division 2 Basketball League with 17 players.
The Benin team led by Head Coach Abel Sunday and Assistant Coach, Christian Osagiede, are presently in Port Harcourt with the determination to win the competition.
The Nigerian National Division 2 Basketball League is a qualification series to the Nigerian National Division 1 Basketball League.
This season’s competition holds from the 14th May to 20th of May 2023, in Rivers state, Portharcourt.
The League is being organized to improve the grass-root basketball in the country.
The Nigerian National Division 2 Basketball League is organized by the Nigerian Basketball Federation and sponsored by Total Energies, and it is pertinent to note that Mr. Noren Uwaifo is the Director of Operations for Highflyers Benin Basketball Club.
Recall that the National Division 2 League started last year, November 2022 at the zonal stage, and the Highflyers Basketball Club of Benin City was the only team that participated from Edo state, and indeed won the zonal qualifiers, and secured a spot for this ongoing group stage, which is the conference play off that commenced on Monday,15th May 2023.
Three zones participated at the group stage, namely; the Southern zone, Eastern zone and Western zone. Two winners each from the three zones, making a total of six teams are participating in the ongoing group stage tournament. Next will be the semi-finals and then the finals.
The team that wins this conference qualifies for National Division 1 and the Highflyers of Benin are looking forward to clinching that spot.
Clubs participating in this year’s league include the Highflyers of Benin; Books and Ball; Anambara State Basketball Club; Favour Arena Basketball Club Port Harcourt; Federal Polytechnic Nekede Basketball Club and Raptors Academy Lagos.
The Benin Highflyers Basketball team members are Augustine Richard No.13, Otunyemi Oluwaseun No.7, Akugbe James No.9, Kelvin Ogunsare No.4, Tom Aroko No.77, Brown Ezekiel No.8, Ola Promise No.5, Aisosa Daniel Osadolor No.6, Isreal Obue No.12, Bethel Oiga No.21, Uyi Omokaro No.14, Uke Sauxx No. 10, Edison Osaige No.00, Delight Ubi No.17, Jack Emmanuel No.3, Samuel Sani No.0.
National Basketball Federation National Division 2 Championship Fixtures:
Match Day 2, 16th May 2023:
¤ Books & Ball 3:00pm Anambra State.
¤ Raptors Academy 5:00pm Federal Poly NKD
Match Day 3, 17th May 2023:
¤ Anambra State 3:00pm Highflyers Benin
¤ Federal Poly NKD 5:00pm Favour Arena
