Abuja 3×3 Basketball Fiesta Helped My Vision, Says Webber

“I am impressed with the level of the skills of the players here and they have all come out with full force to play and I believe that the best team emerged the winner in both the female and male categories,” Babalola Webber said during the week in the Federal Capital Territory.

Opeyemi Babalola-Webber is on a huge drive to take the game of basketball to every major street in Nigeria. If he ever had any doubts as to how far this pursuit could go, the outcome of the Abuja Quest 3×3 Tournament has wiped out all doubts.

The Webber 3×3 basketball tournament in Abuja wrapped up with the New Year celebration when Hillside Elite and TVCC teams respectively emerged as the men’s and ladies’ winners of the event.

 Hillside Elite, which had earlier beaten Warriors 7-3 in the semi finals, defeated NBT Academy 14-4 in the final match played at Jabi Shopping Mall on New Year’s eve to win the cash prize of N250,000.

Also TVCC, which eliminated Connect 7-5 in the semi final bagged the cash prize of N250,000 after it narrowly edged Titans Academy 6-5 in the final.

This inaugural Abuja tournament featured 80 teams; 60 male 20 female basketball teams, drawn from across the FCT. It was a continuation of the spectacular event that began at the 1004 Estate, Victoria Island in December. The high number of teams in the tournament which was spread over four days is giving Webber lovely excitement.

He said, “Before we arrived here from Lagos we were not sure we could get half this number of players and teams but at the end we had to carefully work out the details on how we could manage the large turnout. Our drive is to get more Nigerians involved but particularly get any form of basketball courts in the communities.

“When you see this large number in tournaments one is quite encouraged and excited because you already know that any court we are able to build would be put to good use.”

Basketball thrives as a game of fun and entertainment when fixed at a good venue. The Abuja 3×3 Slam Quest was loved by all because it was real entertaining basketball outing backed by good music and at one of the best venues in the city. The players, fans Tanko Yusuf, a basketball administrator says of the competition, “Well, the tournament has been very good although it can be better. The players themselves are quite happy getting involved in a competition. I say kudos to the organizers as many of them are featuring in a 3×3 tournament for the very first time and you tell that because they are not so conversant with the rules, speed or exactly how to play.

“But this has been a very good exposure and we would like more tournaments like this. It will give these young ones more exposure and improvement for bigger opportunities because right now 3-on-3 is the main thing across the world.”

The large entries in the male category meant all participating teams were classified into six groups while the females were split into two groups.

The tournament organiser, Mr  Opeyemi Babalola, who is the MD /CEO of Webber Engineering Nigeria Ltd., said the idea behind the tournament was to engage the basketball players within and around Abuja in the 3x 3 tournament and to end the year in a good mood with fun-filled activities.

Webber Hoops and Courts into the production of basketball equipment like basketball uprights, the floor, the bleachers, and the crowd barrier was organising the tournament for the first time in the FCT.

While also applauding the large turnout of players for the tournament, the former Kwara Falcons and Dodan Warriors player said the sponsorship was Webber’s way of influencing young players positively by leading by examples and showing them the right path to follow.

Webber Hoops has promised to spread its reach across Nigeria by promoting basketball at the grassroots.

“We plan to do other big cities across Nigeria and definitely other locations and districts in Abuja as well. You will see us coming back. It is going to be a rotary thing and as soon as we get the required collaboration and sponsorships on board you will see us doing more of this every week.”