JaBA head says players, sponsors pleased with NBL season KINGSTON, Jamaica - 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.
