Category: Basketball

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: Celtics Triumph Over Knicks 133-123, White and Porzingis Shine in Boston’s Continued Home Dominance

Match Report: Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

Location: Boston

Final Score: Boston Celtics 133, New York Knicks 123

In a high-scoring affair, the Boston Celtics secured a commanding 133-123 victory over the New York Knicks. The win was fueled by standout performances from Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, propelling Boston to maintain their perfect home record.

Derrick White’s Scoring Prowess
Derrick White led the Celtics with an impressive 30 points, showcasing his scoring ability and playing a pivotal role in the team’s victory. His performance was a key factor in Boston’s offensive dominance throughout the game.

Porzingis Shines in Return
Kristaps Porzingis, returning to the lineup after a four-game absence, made an immediate impact by scoring the team’s first eight points. He finished with 21 points, demonstrating his importance to the Celtics’ offensive scheme.

Tatum and Brown’s Contributions
Jayson Tatum added valuable support with 25 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Jaylen Brown also contributed significantly with 17 points, but his night ended prematurely after being ejected for receiving two technical fouls in the final quarter.

Knicks’ Efforts
The Knicks, despite the loss, saw strong performances from RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson, who each scored 23 points. Julius Randle added 20 points, and Immanuel Quickley contributed 17 points. However, their efforts were not enough to counter the Celtics’ offensive firepower.

Game Highlights
The game was a showcase of efficient shooting, with the Celtics shooting 58.3% and leading 74-65 at halftime. Boston continued their offensive onslaught in the third quarter, extending their lead significantly. The Knicks’ defense, already under scrutiny from coach Tom Thibodeau, struggled to contain Boston’s strong ball movement and sharpshooting.

Closing Moments
After Brown’s ejection, the Knicks managed to reduce their deficit, but the Celtics, led by White’s scoring burst, regained control to secure the win.

Up Next
The Knicks look to rebound as they host the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, while the Celtics aim to continue their winning ways against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.

In summary, the Boston Celtics’ victory over the New York Knicks was marked by high-scoring efforts from Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, alongside significant contributions from Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, despite his early exit. The game highlighted Boston’s offensive depth and their ability to maintain a strong home record.

by Richard Miller (US)

Paul George’s Journey: Triumph Over Adversity

Paul George’s story is one of resilience, a testament to overcoming adversity and redefining success at the highest level of professional basketball. From his early days to his triumphant return to the NBA, George’s journey is a compelling tale of determination and strength.

Early Life and Rise to Prominence

Born on May 2, 1990, in Palmdale, California, Paul George showed an early affinity for basketball. He attended Knight High School, where he played for the varsity basketball team and quickly made a name for himself. Despite being lightly recruited, George’s talent was evident, and he eventually found his way to Fresno State for college basketball. In two seasons with the Bulldogs, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, catching the attention of NBA scouts.

NBA Draft and Early Career

In the 2010 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected George with the 10th overall pick. His rookie season was promising, as he averaged 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, earning a place on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. By his third season (2012-2013), George had emerged as a star, averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He was named an NBA All-Star for the first time, a feat he repeated in the following seasons.

The Catastrophic Injury

George’s ascent was dramatically halted on August 1, 2014, during a Team USA scrimmage. He suffered a devastating compound fracture to his right leg, casting doubt on his basketball future. The severity of the injury was such that it required immediate surgery and a lengthy recovery process.

The Grueling Road Back

George’s recovery was marked by determination and hard work. After months of rigorous rehabilitation, he returned to the court on April 5, 2015. While he only played six games in the 2014-2015 season, his return was a significant milestone, signaling not just a physical recovery but also a mental conquest.

Return to Form

In the 2015-2016 season, George made a full return, playing in 81 games and averaging 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. His performance was a resounding declaration of his resilience, earning him a spot in the All-NBA Third Team.

In subsequent seasons, George continued to excel. His tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder and later the Los Angeles Clippers saw him maintain his status as one of the league’s premier players. His scoring prowess, defensive skills, and leadership on the court have been central to his teams’ successes.

A Resurgent Career

Post-injury, George’s performance was a testament to his resilience. In the 2015-2016 NBA season, he returned to full form, averaging 23.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. He re-established himself as a star, showcasing his prowess as both a scorer and a defender.

In subsequent seasons, George continued to excel. He had a particularly notable stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged career-highs in points per game and asserted himself as a Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate. His performance during these seasons solidified his status as one of the top players in the league.

Performance and Achievements to Date

In recent years, with the Los Angeles Clippers, George has continued to showcase his elite skills. Despite facing additional injuries and challenges, he has remained a key player for the Clippers, contributing significantly on both ends of the court. His ability to bounce back from setbacks and maintain a high level of performance is a testament to his character and skill.

Paul George’s journey from a catastrophic injury to reclaiming his status as an NBA star is a source of inspiration. His story goes beyond basketball, symbolizing the power of perseverance and the human spirit’s capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Conclusion

Paul George’s journey from the depths of a potentially career-ending injury to the heights of NBA stardom is a narrative of unyielding determination and perseverance. His ability to overcome physical and mental challenges and maintain his status as one of the top players in the league is not just a sports story; it’s a human story of triumph over adversity. As he continues his career, George’s legacy as a resilient champion and an inspirational figure in sports is firmly established.

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: Pacers Overpower Bucks 128-119, Advance to NBA In-Season Tournament Final Behind Haliburton’s Heroics

Match Report: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks – NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinal

Final Score: Indiana Pacers 128, Milwaukee Bucks 119

In a thrilling encounter, the Indiana Pacers, spearheaded by Tyrese Haliburton’s outstanding performance, triumphed over the Milwaukee Bucks with a score of 128-119, securing their place in the championship game of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.

Haliburton’s Heroics
Tyrese Haliburton was the star of the night, delivering an exceptional performance with 27 points and 15 assists. His crucial three-pointers, especially the one in the final minute, were pivotal in sealing the win for Indiana. Haliburton’s leadership on the court was evident, as he rallied his team with both his play and his infectious energy.

Team Effort and Offensive Firepower
The Pacers’ victory was underpinned by a strong team effort. Myles Turner added 26 points, making significant contributions to the team’s offense. Obi Toppin scored efficiently, with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Isaiah Jackson and Bruce Brown contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Pacers’ bench played a crucial role, outscoring the Bucks’ reserves 43-13, showcasing the depth and versatility of the team.

Bucks’ Standout Performances
Despite the loss, the Bucks saw impressive performances from their key players. Giannis Antetokounmpo led with 37 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Damian Lillard with 24 points. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez also made significant contributions with 20 and 18 points, respectively.

Critical Moments
A crucial moment came in the second quarter when Indiana’s bench sparked a 16-7 run, turning a two-point deficit into a lead. The Pacers continued to build on this momentum, with Turner, Brown, and Haliburton combining for 17 points in a decisive 21-13 run to close the game.

Looking Ahead
The Pacers, showcasing their scoring prowess with an average of 132.6 points in the tournament, now advance to face the Los Angeles Lakers in what promises to be an exciting championship game on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Up Next
The Pacers gear up for the tournament title game against the Lakers, while the Bucks will aim to bounce back as they host the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

In summary, the Indiana Pacers’ victory over the Milwaukee Bucks was a testament to their depth, offensive strength, and Haliburton’s emerging leadership. Their journey to the In-Season Tournament final sets the stage for a captivating showdown with the Lakers.

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: LeBron Leads Lakers to Dominant Victory Over Pelicans, Securing Spot in NBA In-Season Tournament Final

Match Report: Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Pelicans – NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinal

Final Score: Los Angeles Lakers 133, New Orleans Pelicans 89

In a commanding display of basketball prowess, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by a stellar performance from LeBron James, dismantled the New Orleans Pelicans with a decisive 133-89 victory in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinal in Las Vegas. This emphatic win propels the Lakers into the championship game against the Indiana Pacers.

LeBron James’ Dominance
LeBron James, the Lakers’ talisman, was in sublime form, scoring 30 points in less than three quarters. His offensive onslaught included a series of highlight-reel moments, particularly in the second quarter where he scored the team’s first 11 points, turning a one-point deficit into a significant lead. James’ performance was punctuated by three consecutive 3-pointers, electrifying the crowd and showcasing his range and accuracy.

Team Effort and Defensive Brilliance
The Lakers’ victory was not just about James. It was a comprehensive team effort, with notable contributions from Austin Reaves, who added 17 points, and Anthony Davis, who posted a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Taurean Prince also chipped in with 15 points. The team’s defensive effort was equally impressive, holding the Pelicans to a mere 35.8% shooting from the field and securing a dominant 59-42 rebounding advantage.

Pelicans’ Struggles
The Pelicans, despite starting strong with a 30-29 lead after the first quarter, were unable to maintain their momentum. Trey Murphy III led their scoring with 14 points, followed by Zion Williamson with 13 points and Herbert Jones with 10. However, their overall performance was lackluster, as noted by coach Willie Green, who expressed disappointment in the team’s competitive spirit.

Looking Ahead
The Lakers now look forward to the championship game against a youthful and fast-paced Indiana Pacers team. Their recent form, winning three of their last four games, coupled with the high stakes of the NBA In-Season Tournament, has brought out a level of intensity and unity in the team, as observed by coach Darvin Ham.

Up Next
The Pelicans will try to regroup as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Lakers are set to face the Indiana Pacers in what promises to be an exhilarating title game on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

In summary, the Lakers’ dominant win over the Pelicans showcased their potential as a cohesive and formidable unit, with LeBron James leading the charge and the team demonstrating a solid defensive and offensive balance. The NBA In-Season Tournament final against the Pacers is poised to be a thrilling encounter.

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: THUNDER at ROCKETS | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | December 6, 2023

The Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 110-101. Dillon Brooks led the way with 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists for the Rockets, while Aaron Holiday added a season-high 22 points (6-7 3PM), 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in the victory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 33 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds for the Thunder. The Rockets improve to 9-9 in the regular season, while the Thunder fall to 13-7.

by Richard Miller (US)

SUNS at LAKERS | NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT 🏆 | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | December 5, 2023

LeBron James leads the way with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 steals as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 106-103 and advance to the IST Semifinals to face the Pelicans. Anthony Davis added 27 points and 15 rebounds in the victory, while Kevin Durant added 31 points (12-17 FG), 7 rebounds and 4 assists for the Suns.

The Lakers improve to 13-9 on the season, while the Suns fall to 12-9. LeBron James became the 3rd Laker in franchise history with 30+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a game.

Magic Johson (4x)

Gail Goodrich

He’s the 1st Laker since Kobe Bryant with 20+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a game 11/17/2004 (23 pts, 11 ast, 5 stl)

James joins Jerry West as the only players to have 25+ points, 10+ assists, 5+ rebounds and 5+ steals in a game at the age of 35 or older West (35y, 190d) – 26 pts, 14 ast, 9 reb, 5 stl (12/4/1973)

The Lakers will face the Pelicans in the IST semifinals on Thursday, Dec 7th at 9:00 PM ET, TNT.

by Richard Miller (US)

KNICKS at BUCKS | NBA IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT 🏆 | FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | December 5, 2023

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way with 35 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the New York Knicks, 146-122 and advance to the IST Semifinals. Damian Lillard adds 28 points, 7 assists and 5 3PM in the victory, while Julius Randle tallied a season-high 41 points (14-19 FG), along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the Knicks.

The Bucks improve to 15-6 on the season, while the Knicks fall to 12-8. The Bucks shot 60.5% from 3 (23-38), the 2nd best 3P% in franchise history (min. 35 3PA) 24-39 (61.5%) – 3/22/2021 vs Pacers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded his fifth career 35+ point, 10+ assist and 5+ rebound game, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most in Bucks franchise history.

The Bucks will face the Pacers in the IST Semifinals on Thursday, December 7th at 5:00 PM ET, ESPN.

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: In-Season Tournament: A Showcase of Prestigious Trophies

NBA In-Season Tournament: A Showcase of Prestigious Trophies

The NBA has recently unveiled a series of unique trophies for its inaugural In-Season Tournament, each designed to celebrate different aspects of the competition. These trophies add a layer of prestige and recognition to what promises to be an exciting addition to the NBA calendar.

The NBA Cup

  • Awarded To: In-Season Tournament Champions.
  • Design Collaboration: Tiffany & Co. and artist Victor Solomon.
  • Features: The trophy is handcrafted, blending gold and black colors to symbolize the highest level of achievement. The design includes eight prongs inspired by a diamond ring, a base with net detail representing both conference championship trophy bases, and various symbolic elements like the 23” height for the inaugural year, 30 net openings for the NBA teams, and 35 lbs weight representing the tournament structure.
© NBA

NBA In-Season Tournament MVP Trophy

  • Awarded To: The Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.
  • Design Elements: Matching the championship trophy in color, it features a black and gold scheme with a design mirroring the championship prong design. The trophy’s dimensions and weight are carefully chosen to represent various aspects of the NBA and the tournament, including the number of teams and groups involved.
© NBA

NBA In-Season Tournament Medals

  • Awarded To: Each player of the Championship team.
  • Design Significance: These medals, a customary award in basketball tournaments, bear the “NBA In-Season Tournament Champions” inscription and feature a silhouette of the NBA Cup. The design also includes symbolic elements representing the semifinal teams.
© NBA

All-Tournament Team Trophies

  • Awarded To: Members of the In-Season Tournament All-Tournament Team, chosen by a media panel.
  • Design: Created by Victor Solomon, these trophies are composed of a solid black crystal basketball with gold channels, featuring a bracket motif in reference to the tournament. They stand 7.5 inches tall and weigh 20 pounds each, symbolizing the achievement and stature of the all-tournament team players.
© NBA

These trophies not only recognize individual and team achievements but also contribute to the growing legacy of the NBA In-Season Tournament, enhancing its appeal and prestige among players and fans alike.

by Richard Miller (US)

NBA: Bucks Triumph Over Knicks; Lakers in Action

In the ongoing NBA In-Season Tournament, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a resounding victory over the New York Knicks, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the charge. His impressive performance of 35 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, and 3 steals was pivotal in the Bucks’ 146-122 triumph, demonstrating their dominance particularly in the third quarter.

Knockout Rounds Heat Up

The Knockout Rounds of the tournament began on December 4, setting the stage for intense competition. The Quarterfinals took place across various home markets, while the Semifinals and Championship are scheduled in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena. Notable games included the Pacers’ win over the Celtics, with Tyrese Haliburton recording a triple-double, and the Pelicans’ victory against the Kings, led by Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones.

Quarterfinals

  • Tue., Dec. 5: Bucks 146, Knicks 122
  • Tue., Dec. 5: Lakers 106, Suns 103
  • Mon., Dec. 4: Pacers 122, Celtics 112 
  • Mon., Dec. 4: Pelicans 127, Kings 117

Upcoming Semifinals and Championship

The Semifinals are set for December 7, featuring a matchup between the Pacers and the Bucks, followed by the Pelicans facing the winner of the Lakers-Suns game. The Championship is scheduled for December 9, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament. The unique single-elimination format of these games adds to the intensity, with the ultimate winner taking home the NBA Cup. Notably, games in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals count towards regular season records, unlike the Championship game.

Semifinals

  • Thu., Dec. 7: Pacers vs. Bucks (5 p.m., ESPN)
  • Thu., Dec. 7: Pelicans vs. Lakers (9 p.m., TNT)

Championship

  • Sat., Dec. 9: TBD vs. TBD (8:30 p.m., ABC)
  • All times are Eastern Standard Time. 

This tournament is proving to be a thrilling addition to the NBA season, showcasing exceptional talent and competitive spirit.

by Richard Miller (US)

Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. Poised for Comeback Against Wizards

After a challenging recovery from a hit-and-run accident, Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is ready to hit the court again. Oubre, who sustained significant injuries including a broken rib, is expected to make his much-awaited return in the upcoming game against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

The incident, which occurred near Oubre’s home in Center City, Philadelphia, has been a subject of public scrutiny and police investigation. Despite the challenges and the absence of video evidence, Oubre remained focused on his recovery.

Having missed 11 games, Oubre’s return is a significant boost for the 76ers, who are vying for a top spot in the Eastern Conference. The team and fans are eagerly anticipating his performance as he reclaims his place on the court. Coach Nick Nurse has expressed confidence in Oubre, hinting at his immediate inclusion in the lineup against the Wizards. This game marks not just a professional comeback for Oubre but also a personal triumph over adversity.

by Abhishek Shukla

NBA AND FANCODE ANNOUNCE LEAGUE’S FIRST LIVESTREAMING PARTNERSHIP IN INDIA

MUMBAI, Nov. 26, 2019 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and FanCode – a multi-sport aggregator platform offering a wide spectrum of content, commerce and community engagement – today announced the league’s first partnership to livestream NBA games and programming to fans in India.

NBA fans who subscribe to FanCode will have live and on-demand access to select games throughout the 2019-20 NBA season, including regular-season games, the Playoffs and The Finals. 

“By offering NBA games on FanCode, we will further connect with millions of fans in India who enjoy NBA daily fantasy by offering them features like fantasy research, game recaps, news, live scores and much more,” said NBA India Managing Director Rajesh Sethi.  “As the demand for NBA programming and content continues to grow in India, we are committed to providing fans with new and personalized ways to connect with the NBA.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with the NBA, one of the world’s premier sports brands,” said Yannick Colaco, Co-Founder of FanCode.  “Basketball fans will now have comprehensive coverage of the NBA on FanCode, including livestreams of all the biggest games, scores, features, news coverage and fantasy research.”

FanCode, owned by Sporta Technologies which also owns Dream11, the NBA’s official Fantasy Gaming Partner in India, has over 10 million app installs.  Games streamed live on the platform will be the same that would be available for fantasy gaming on Dream11.

by Abhishek Shukla

Indian Jr Boys and Girls to take part in Jr. NBA Global Championship

NEW YORK, July 24, 2019 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the roster of 32 youth teamsthat will participate in the second Jr. NBA Global Championship, a youth basketball tournament for the top 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls teams from around the world, as well as the lineup of talent who will support the event onsite.  The competition will take place Tuesday, Aug. 6 – Sunday, Aug. 11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. and will air on the FOX Sports family of networks.

Three-time NBA Champion and Jr. NBA Global Championship Ambassador Dwyane Wade, Utah Jazz guard and 2019 NBA Sportsmanship and Twyman–Stokes Teammate of the Year Award recipient Mike Conley, 2018 WNBA MVP and WNBA Champion Breanna Stewart, New Orleans Pelicans Vice President of Basketball Operations and Team Development and former WNBA All-Star Swin Cash and Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle will attend the event to watch the competition, interact with the youth teams and participate in leadership development programs.

FOX Sports will air 16 games throughout the week, totaling 24 hours of programming across FOX, FS1 and FS2, including the girls and boys Global Championship games on Aug. 11 at 3:00 p.m. ET and 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, respectively.  All games will be telecast live and simulcast on FOXSports.com as well as the FOX Sports app. 

Eight-time NBA All-Star Vince Carter, YES Network’s lead Brooklyn Nets game analyst Sarah Kustok and college basketball analyst Donny Marshall will provide commentary for FOX for the second consecutive year.  Play-by-play announcer Mark Followill returns courtside along with the addition of versatile broadcaster Brian Custer, while Noah Eagle will serve as a reporter and Charissa Thompson will once again anchor a pregame show live from Orlando, Fla.

Supported by long-time league partners FIBA and USA Basketball, the event will bring together the top 32 boys and girls teams (16 U.S. and 16 international) that advanced from regional competitions earlier this year that collectively reached more than 15,000 youth from 75 countries.  The 16 international teams (eight boys and eight girls teams) represent Africa, Asia Pacific, Canada, China, Europe & Middle East, India, Latin America and Mexico.  The following 16 U.S. teams won Jr. NBA Global Championship regional tournaments to advance to Orlando:

U.S. Boys Division:

Central (Drive5 Power Elite; Overland Park, Kan.)*

Mid-Atlantic (Quality Warriors; Upper Marlboro, Md.)

Midwest (The Family; Detroit, Mich.)*

Northeast (K/S Elite All Stars; New York, N.Y.)

Northwest (Dynasty Red; Portland, Ore.)

South (Drive Nation; Dallas, Texas)

Southeast (TSF Mack; Atlanta, Ga.)*

West (City Ballers; Los Angeles, Calif.)

U.S Girls Division:

Central (Missouri Phenom; Kansas City, Mo.)

Mid-Atlantic (Maryland Belles; Odenton, Md.)

Midwest (All Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio)

Northeast (Empire State Basketball Club; Westchester, N.Y.)*

Northwest (Evolution Greyhounds; Seattle, Wash.)

South (Cy Fair Elite; Austin, Texas)

Southeast (FBC United The Family; Metro Atlanta, Ga.)

West (San Diego Waves; San Diego, Calif.)

*Team that participated in the inaugural Jr. NBA Global Championship in 2018

Current and former NBA and WNBA players who are alumni of the U.S. teams include Ariel Atkins (South; Girls), Brooke McCarty (South; Girls), Candice Wiggins (West; Girls), Chiney Ogwumike (South; Girls), Draymond Green (Midwest; Boys), Kelsey Mitchell (Midwest; Girls), Kelsey Plum (West; Girls), Nneka Ogwumike (South; Girls) and Miles Bridges (Midwest; Boys).  There are also several players who have ties to the U.S. programs, including Bol Bol (Central; Boys), Danny Green (Northeast; Boys), Jerami Grant (Mid-Atlantic; Boys), Jerian Grant (Mid-Atlantic; Boys), Jermaine O’Neal (South; Boys), Josh Hart (Mid-Atlantic; Boys), Kevin Durant (Mid-Atlantic; Boys), Kyrie Irving (Northeast; Boys), Rod Strickland (Northeast; Boys), Shelvin Mack (Southeast; Boys) and Victor Oladipo (Mid-Atlantic; Boys).

The Jr. NBA Global Championship will feature boys and girls divisions, separated into U.S. and international brackets that begin with round-robin play and continue with single-elimination competition.  The competition, which aligns with the NBA and USA Basketball Youth Guidelines promoting player health and wellness, will culminate with the winners of the U.S. and international brackets playing in the Global Championship games on Aug. 11.  On Aug. 8, the teams will take a break from gameplay to participate in an NBA Cares community service project during the day and a skills competition in the evening that will feature a three-point shooting competition and a dunk exhibition.

During the weeklong event, all 32 teams will participate in activities designed to reinforce the Jr. NBA’s core values and provide the players with development opportunities and memorable experiences.  In the inaugural Jr. NBA Global Championship, the Central girls (Kansas City, Mo.) defeated the Europe girls team 68-38, while the Central boys (Overland Park, Kan.) defeated the Africa & Middle East boys team 60-50 in the Global Championship games. Sixteen players who participated in the inaugural event will be returning to play in the second Jr. NBA Global Championship. 

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Sanjana Ramesh receives a Division I basketball scholarship with NAU Women’s Basketball

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (November 14, 2018) – The Pacific Northwest has been kind to the Northern Arizona women’s basketball program of late, but head coach Loree Payne did not stop there when looking to supplement next season’s roster. In addition to nabbing another Seattle product, Payne went far east to untapped recruiting ground to fill her 2019 signing class.

 

On Wednesday, Payne announced Sanjana Ramesh (Bangalore, Karnataka, India) and Emily Rodabaugh (Lynnwood, Wash.) as the newest Lumberjacks after the pair signed their National Letters of Intent. Both Ramesh and Rodabaugh will be incoming freshmen for the 2019-20 season.

 

“With only two scholarships, we had to get two impact players and we did,” Payne said. “We got two players who have the potential to impact our program right away. Both fit our style of play, can get up and down the floor and are very versatile. They can play on the perimeter and can play on the inside. We pride ourselves on player development, and there is no ceiling to how great these two players can be.”

 

Ramesh’s signing is monumental not only for the Lumberjacks, but for her entire country as she becomes just the second Indian-born female player to receive a Division I basketball scholarship. Ramesh, a 6-0 forward, will head to NAU with phenomenal international accolades in her home country.

 

In 2017, Ramesh captained India’s U16 team in FIBA’s U16 Asia Cup. There, the team went undefeated in Division B and won promotion to Division A for the next edition of the tournament. She averaged 6.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game during the tournament and then proceeded to play for India in the 2018 William Jones Cup held in Taiwan.

 

Ramesh, with numerous experiences on the state, national and international level, also participated in The NBA Academies Women’s Program camp in May at The NBA Academy India in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), where she received on- and off-court training alongside top female prospects from throughout India.  Following the NBA Academies Women’s Program camp, Ramesh was then named the MVP of the girls division at Basketball Without Borders Asia, a three-day basketball development camp featuring the top male and female basketball prospects from throughout Asia.

 

“Sanjana is an athlete who has international and national experience in India,” Payne said. “We’re trying to get our foot in the door in the international recruiting scene and for us, Sanjana is everything we’re looking for. She’s a joyful kid and very thankful for the opportunity to come here and she’s going to be a heck of a player. Her potential is limitless.”

 

Rodabaugh, a 6-0 wing, enters her senior season at Archbishop Murphy High School as the two-time Cascade Conference Most Valuable Player. Last season as a junior, Rodabaugh helped lead her team to the Class 2A state championship game where Archbishop Murphy would finish runner-up with a 24-3 record. Even in defeat, Rodabaugh was named the tournament MVP.

 

Her performance in the state championship game capped a season in which she averaged 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She was incredibly efficient, shooting 49 percent from the field. Rodabaugh improved her three-point shooting from 28 percent as a sophomore to 35 percent last season.

 

Rodabaugh was named to the 2018 Associated Press All-State Team and is a two-time All-State performer. She has also been selected to play in the Washington/North Idaho High School Girls’ All-State Basketball Classic twice in 2017 and 2018.

 

“Emily has had a ton of success as a high school player in Seattle,” Payne said. “She’s a trail 4 who can shoot the three. She’s got a scorer’s mentality and is athletic and mobile. She will be a huge contributor to our offensive scheme, and defensively, she is solid as well.

by Abhishek Shukla

NBA Academy India lose to NBA Academy China in their opening game

The second NBA Academy Games and Basketball Australia Prospects Camp tipped off yesterday at The NBA Global Academy at the Australia Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra, Australia. More than 120 prospects representing 18 countries arrived in Canberra for a series of exhibition games, on-court drilling, positional skill development and daily life skills sessions.
 
The week-long camp will feature prospects from the NBA Academies in Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal, along with five teams comprised of 50 top prospects from Australia, including BA’s Centre of Excellence team.
 
NBA Academy Game and BA Prospects Camp Teams: The NBA Global Academy; The NBA Academy Africa; The NBA Academy China; The NBA Academy India; The NBA Academy Latin America; Centre of Excellence
BA Prospects Team A; BA Prospects Team B; BA Prospects Team C; BA Prospects Team D; BA Prospects Team E
Today’s on-court action included combine testing, physio sessions and team practices throughout the morning. Prospects also participated in an Introduction to Meditation life skills session led by former NBA player and NBA Academy Advisory Committee member Adonal Foyle.
 
Exhibition games began Monday afternoon, including the following three matchups:
 
The NBA Academy China vs. The NBA Academy India
  • The NBA Academy China defeated The NBA Academy India 81-63.  The NBA Academy China features prospects from the three NBA Academies in China (Jinan, Urumqi and Zhuji), while The NBA Academy India traveled from Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) to Canberra for the second straight year.  The high-scoring NBA Academy China team was paced by Xihao Yang, who recorded a 12 point / 10 rebound double-double and Lin Qi who dropped 17 points on 7/10 shooting.  Pritish Jitesh Kokate scored 14 points off the bench for The NBA Academy India. Box Score.
 
 
The NBA Global Academy vs. The NBA Academy Latin America
  • The NBA Global Academy defeated The NBA Academy Latin America 72-55. After being down two points at halftime, The NBA Global Academy rallied in the second half to outscore The NBA Academy Latin America by 19 points to win the opening game of the week.  The NBA Global Academy had three players in double figures including, Tamuri Wigness (Australia), Josh Bannan (Australia) and Aly Khalifa (Egypt). The NBA Academy Latin America’s strong team chemistry was on full display, led by the dynamic backcourt of Jermaine Perez (Puerto Rico) and Santiago Vescovi (Uruguay) who scored 15 points and five points, respectively. Box Score.
 
The NBA Academy Africa vs. Centre of Excellence
  • Centre of Excellence defeated The NBA Academy Africa 60-41 in the final game of the day. Centre of Excellence jumped out to an early 32-15 lead at the half before The NBA Academy Africa settled into an offensive rhythm, scoring 16 third quarter points. The Centre of Excellence benefited from a balanced scoring attack fueled by 21 points off turnovers. Alexander Ducas and Daniel Grida led the COE in scoring with 13 points and 10 points, respectively.  Timothy Igohoefe (Nigeria) led The NBA Africa Academy with a team high 14 points and nine rebounds. Ibou Badji (Senegal) turned in an impressive eight point, six rebound and four block performance in 19 minutes. Box Score.
by Abhishek Shukla

India all set to participate in the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2017 in Mongolia

Bengaluru, 26th October 2017: The FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2017 will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on October 27-29 2017.Mongolia will host the second edition of the most important 3×3 competition for national teams in Asia and – for the first time – Oceania. The inaugural edition was held in Doha, Qatar on May 15-16 2013.This will mark the first time ever Mongolia hosts a FIBA 3×3 official event. The Indian women’s team are entering the tournament with high hopes as they are the defending champions of the first edition of this tournament.

Team India(Women)

Sr. No.

Name

Height(cm/ft&inches)

Date of Birth

(dd/mm/yyyy)

1

Shireen Vijay Limayee

184cm/ 6’0″

13/02/1995

2

Raspreet Sidhu

171cm/ 5’7″

18/07/1989

3

Jeena Palanilkumkalayil Skaria

179cm/ 5’10”

09/01/1994

4

Gia Merlin Varghese

174cm/ 5’8″

29/03/1995

The women’s team are in Pool D alongside Kyrgyzstan and New Zealand.They play their first match against Kyrgyzstan at 13.50 A.M(11.20 A.M IST), 27th October and the second match against New Zealand at 15.20 A.M(12.50 A.M IST) on the same day.

Team India(Men)

Sr. No.

Name

Height(cm/ft&inches)

Date of Birth

(dd/mm/yyyy)

1

 Ravi Bharadwaj 204cm/ 6’8″ 31/10/1992

2

 Anil Kumar Bukankere Krishne Gowda 185cm/ 6’0″ 31/07/1989

3

 Gurvinder Singh Gill 201cm/ 6’7″ 21/01/1996

4

 Jeevanantham Pandi 205cm/ 6’8″ 13/10/1994

The men’s team are in the Qualifying draw along with Lebanon and Chinese Taipei. They play their first match against Chinese Taipei at 8.50 A.M(6.20 A.M IST), 27th October and the second match against Lebanon at 9.30 A.M(8.00 A.M IST) on the same day.

1st FIBA Asia 3X3 Championship for Men & Women was held at Doha, Qatar from 15th to 16thMay, 2013. The Indian Women team won GOLD medal and Geethu Anna Jose was selected member of the Dream Team, All Star team of Women. The Men team reached the Quarter final stage.  (Mens Team – Ajay Pratap Singh, Pratham Singh, Arjun Singh, Ranbir Singh & Mr. Shakti Sinh Gohil as Manager; Women Team– Geethu Anna Jose, Anitha Paul Durai, Manisha Dange, Pratima Singh and Dr. Suman Sharma as Manager). Qatar won the championship for Men. Geethu Anna Jose was declared the MVP for women.

by Abhishek Shukla

India’s Amjyot Singh Gill Selected by the Oklahoma City Blue in the 2017 NBA G League Draft

Mumbai, October 21, 2017: Amjyot Singh Gill was selected 103rd in the fourth Round of the NBA G League Draft held in New York on October 21, 2017.  The 25-year old was drafted by the Oklahoma City Blue, affiliate team of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

 

The 6ft 9in player said, “It’s an awesome feeling to get drafted in the NBA G League! Thank you to all my supporters and well-wishers back home. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity with OKC Blue.”

 

Amjyot, who led the Indian Men’s National Basketball team at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup, has been representing India since 2010.  He also represented Tokyo Excellence in the National Basketball Development League – Japan in 2015-16 season.  The power forward has also been an Asian All-Star for 2015 & 2016.

 

Meanwhile, Indian origin player Gokul Natesan was picked by Canton Charge as 97thpick.  Canton Charge is the Development team of Cleveland Cavaliers.  The 6ft 5in player from Colorado School of Mines was the RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) Scholar-Male Athlete of the year as well as RMAC Tournament MVP in 2016-17 season.

 

The NBA G League will tip off the 2017-18 season on Friday, Nov. 3.  A record 26 teams will compete in the NBA G League’s 17th season, including four expansion clubs owned by NBA franchises: the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (LA Clippers), Erie BayHawks (Atlanta Hawks), Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies) and Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks).  Each team will play a 50-game schedule that concludes in March 2018.

by Abhishek Shukla

INDIA’s AMJYOT SINGH ENTERS 2017 NBA G LEAGUE DRAFT

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2017 – One hundred and forty-six players are eligible to be selected in the 2017 NBA G League Draft, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. ET via teleconference from the league’s New York headquarters.
No trades will be permitted during the four-round draft and only players signed to an NBA G League Standard Player Contract are eligible to be selected. Teams are required to make at least three selections during the draft.  Once a team declines to make a pick, it may not make another selection for the remainder of the event.
Fans are encouraged to log onto www.nbagleague.com to follow the live draft board.
by Abhishek Shukla

Results from the 3rd day of the 44th Sub Junior National Championship

Bengaluru/Didwana 10th October 2017: The 44th Sub Junior National Championship for Boys and Girls is being held at the Bangour college stadium, Didwana, Rajasthan from 8th to 14th October 2017. The Championship is being organized by the Rajasthan Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India. The prestigious Championship will feature 30 boys’ teams and 24 girls’ teams in the U14 age group, from various Indian States and Union territories, and will be played in a league cum knockout format. The Results from the first two days of the championship are as follows:

 

 

DAY 3, 10th October 2017, Results till 11.30 A.M

BOYS

LEVEL 1

 

GROUP A

1.  Punjab(Gagandeep 17pts, Mandeep 14pts) bt  Maharashtra(Rehan 14pts)61-47[16-06,11-154,14-21,20-6]

GROUP B

1. Uttar Pradesh(Kapil 25pts, Aman 19pts) bt  Chhattisgarh(Rishabh 29pts)70-63[26-15,4-14,22-18,18-16]

LEVEL 2

GROUP C

1. Nagaland(Thejavor 15pts) bt Goa(Sahil 7pts) 38-13[9-3,4-0,8-8,17-2]

2. Karnataka(Harsh 9pts) bt  Gujarat(Shivam 7pts) 35-21[6-4,14-6,9-6,6-5]

 

GROUP D

1. Mizoram(Abhishek 22pts, Sunny 13pts) bt  Chandigarh(Rempruatpuia 12pts) 41-39[8-8,15-04,4-12,14-16]

2. Himachal Pradesh(Hardip 14pts, Aryan 6pts) bt Tripura(Animesh 2pts) 41-06[22-0,11-0,6-2,2-4] 

 

GROUP E

1. Uttrakhand(Vishal 6pts) bt Jammu Kashmir(Eshan 5pts) 18-15[2-6,3-3,3-4,10-2]

2. Bihar(Manuel 8pts) bt Meghalaya(Derex 6pts) 40-10[8-2,14-4,14-0,4-4]

GROUP F

1. Jharkhand(Siddharth 15pts, Aditya 8pts) bt West Bengal(Md. ibrahim 26pts) 48-46[14-13,14-06,12-10,12-17]

GIRLS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Madhya Pradesh(Shivangi 12pts, Ishita 6pts) bt Delhi(Sophia 7pts)  35-25[8-1,10-5,11-9,6-10]

GROUP B

1. Tamil Nadu(Sathya 17pts, Sadhana 16pts) bt  Karnataka(Diyaj 13pts) 66-28[24-15,16-7,11-3,15-3]

LEVEL 2

GROUP F

1. Himachal Pradesh(Siya 12pts, Gurleen 10pts) bt Uttrakhand(Siya Gupta 7pts) 42-19[16-13,12-0,8-0,6-6]

DAY 2, 9th October 2017

BOYS

LEVEL 1

 

GROUP A

1. Madhya Pradesh(Rishikesh 13pts, Gopi 12 pts) bt Maharashtra(Rehan 10pts, Adnan 9pts) 72-33[14-03,25-11,19-10,14-9]

2. Punjab(Mandeep 14pts, Vikas 12 pts) bt Telangana(G. Surya Kumar 11pts)48-38[12-09,10-07,15-12,11-10]

3. Andhra Pradesh(T. Sai Charan 22pts, Ch. Sai Babu 18pts) bt Maharashtra(Dev Premi 14pts, Tanmay 12pts) 72-55[22-20,16-14,11-11,23-10]

 

GROUP B

1. Haryana(Mohit 30pts, Vikas 13pts) bt Odisha(Ankit 6pts) 53-19[16-10,5-3,17-0,15-6]

2. Rajasthan(Lokendra Singh 15pts, Jaideep 10pts) bt Odisha(Sasank 4pts)63-23[17-08,20-08,17-02,9-5]

 

 

LEVEL 2

 

GROUP C

1. Nagaland(Thejazo 20pts, Ruokuovoy 8pts) bt Puducherry(Nandan 12pts, Srivatsan 7pts) 36-34[10-8,4-12,12-6,10-8]

2. Gujuarat(Pavan 11 pts) bt Goa(Sahil 7pts) 31-12[7-6,10-0,10-2,5-4]

3. Karnataka(Akshay 12pts) bt Nagaland(Dziesekhrietoo 7pts) 50-26[12-5,6-12,20-3,12-6]

4. Puducherry(Nandhan 22pts) bt  Goa(Sahil 12pts) 40-26[18-03,4-3,2-8,16-12]

GROUP D

1. Mizoram(VL. B. 6pts) bt Tripura(Prasendit 6pts) 38-10[18-0,10-0,8-8,2-2]

2. Chandigarh(Sunny 20pts, Abhishek 18pts) bt  Himachal Pradesh(Yajush 9pts, Arman 6pts) 53-23[21-06,01-05,10-00,12-12]

3. Mizoram(Zuala 22pts, Johan 10pts) bt Kerel(Jordan 10pts)a 54-38[08-12,14-11,17-8,15-7]

GROUP E

1. Meghalaya(Lawrence 20pts, jaffrey 7pts)  bt  Uttrakhand(Pratyush 7pts)48-23[16-02,8-7,8-3,16-11]

2. Bihar(Manvesh 12pts, Siddharth 11pts) bt Jammu and Kashmir(Vishal 5pts) 43-23[12-08,10-08,14-4,9-3]

3. Tamil Nadu(Mario 10pts, Dharnesh 8pts) bt Meghalaya 41-06[13-2,7-0,14-04,7-0]

4. Bihar(Sidharth 15pts, Manuel 18pts) bt  Uttrakhand(Aditya 4pts) 56-11[8-2,16-1,7-5,23-3]

GROUP F

1. Manipur(Tanson 9pts, K. Jetli 8pts) bt West Bengal(Prakash 9pts) 36-29[7-4,9-8,7-10,13-5]

2. Assam(Rahul 26pts, Praveen 12 pts, Parri 12pts) bt Jharkhand(Aditya 14pts, Siddharth 10pts) 59-45[16-10,3-13,28-14,12-8]

3. Manipur(Tanson 25pts, Jetli 20pts) bt  Delhi(Shiven Gupta 20pts, Rathore 11pts) 61-54[13-10,10-5,16-19,22-20]

4. West Bengal(Md. Ibraham 17pts) bt Assam(Parri 12pts) 51-37[11-12,12-4,10-9,18-12]

 

GIRLS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Maharashtra(Danira 8pts, Shomira 7pts) bt Delhi() 44-17[13-04,12-05,11-04,8-4]

2. Rajasthan(Jiya 19pts, Diksha 7pts) bt Madhya Pradesh(Divya 14pts, Ishita 7pts) 46-37[11-14,5-13,8-4,22-6]

3. Chhattisgarh(Arshiya 22pts) bt Delhi(Sakshi 8pts) 64-19[23-06,5-2,12-06,24-05]

GROUP B

1. Punjab(Vrinda 12pts, kavya 11pts) bt Kerela(Malavika 22pts) 48-42[10-15,13-4,11-7,14-16]

GROUP C

1. Tamil nadu(Sathya 18pts, Sadhana 8pts) bt  Punjab(Vrinda 8pts) 53-23[13-4,14-4,8-3,18-12]

2. Chandigarh(Anjali 24pts) bt Goa(Elaine 5pts) 43-09[12-02,2-1,19-3,10-3]

GROUP D

1. Bihar(Muskan 24pts) bt Jammu and kashmir(Vaidehi 6pts) 32-10[11-01,3-4,6-1,12-4]

GROUP E

1. Gujarat(Priyanshi 8pts) bt Jharkhand(Senali 2pts) 38-08[8-0,11-4,8-2,11-2]

2. West Bengal(Shreya 16pts, Koena 12pts) bt Assam(Rizwana 7pts) 48-09[12-1,8-2,14-4,14-2]

GROUP F

1. Himachal Pradesh(Gurleen 7pts) bt Odisha(Anita 9pts) 23-16[7-5,8-3,1-8,7-0]

2. Andhra Pradesh(K. Sudha 9pts) bt Uttrakhand(Sakshi 7pts) 31-03[7-1,9-0,10-2,5-0]

 

DAY 1, 8th October 2017

BOYS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Andhra Pradesh(Ch. Sai Babu 18pts, Sai Charan 8pts) bt Telangana(Sourav Dehraan 25 pts, Chandrahaas 7 pts) 53-50[15-15,17-08,13-11,08-16]

2. Madhya Pradesh(Bhagat 20pts, Gopi 12pts) bt Punjab(Vikas 13pts, Mandeep 11pts) 57-52[16-11,10-16,19-15,12-10]

 

GROUP B

1. Rajasthan(Lokendra Singh 24pts, Jaideep Rathore 21pts) bt   Uttar Pradesh(Shreyansh 14pts) 71-58[20-14,15-6,18-16,18-22]

2.  Chhattisgarh(Deepak 13 pts, Shivanand 12 pts) bt Odisha(Ankit 8pts, Sasank 8pts) 48-38[11-07, 19-04, 10-13, 08-14]

 

 

 

LEVEL 2

GROUP C

1. Karnataka(Harsh 14pts, Dibya 11pts, Akshay 9 pts) bt Puducherry(Nanda 10pts, Srivatsan 4pts)  50-26[13-02,14-10,9-12,14-2]

2. Gujarat(Aryan 12pts, Ayan Khan 9pts) bt Nagaland(Dziese 9pts, Kikrusietube 4pts)  40-22[10-6,8-6,11-3,11-7]

3. Karnataka(Vedanth 15 pts, Akshay 7pts) bt Goa(Mokshad 6 pts) 50-14[15-04, 10-00, 9-6, 16-04]

GROUP D

1. Kerela(Rinil C.K 14pts, Athul 11pts) bt Tripura(Ramesh D 8pts)  72-09[16-0,21-7,17-2,18-0]

2. Mizoram(Jacob 10pts, Lalhmangaixg 10pts) bt Himachal Pradesh(Arman 14pts, Japreet 10pts) 52-42[10-11,12-8,10-4,20-19]

3. Kerela(Jordan 19pts, Athul 12 pts) bt Chandigarh(Sunny 21pts, Nitesh 12pts) 59-47[6-11,14-16,24-6,15-14]

GROUP E

1. Tamil Nadu(Gowtham 18pts, Shibi 16pts) bt Uttrakhand(Karan Sood 5pts) 77-12[23-04,18-05,16-02,20-01]

2. Meghalaya(Lawerence 26pts, Jeffrey 08pts) bt Jammu and Kashmire(Azhar 7pts) 59-19[12-6,12-5,17-04,18-4]

3. Tamil Nadu(Sharan 8pts, Shibi 6pts) bt Bihar(Sidharth 7pts) 43-19[13-08,12-01,8-2,10-8]

GROUP F

1. Manipur(Tanson 16pts, K. Jetli 14pts) bt Jharkhand(Shoaib Khan 9pts) 46-29[13-12,16-4,5-8,12-10]

2. Assam(Parri 25pts, Parveen 10pts ) bt Delhi(Upanshu 16pts, yatish 6pts)45-43[4-9,4-10,20-8,187-16]

 

GIRLS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Maharashtra(Bhakti 08 pts) bt Rajasthan(Divisha 06 pts) 45-20[10-03,12-05,09-09,14-04]

GROUP B

1. Karnataka(Sunishka 13pts, Vedaa 10pts) bt  Uttar Pradesh(Nadani 12pts, Sumira 8pts) 37-35[15-08,00-05,09-10,13-12]

LEVEL 2

GROUP C

1. Haryana(Ritika 11 pts, Tina 11pts) bt Chandigarh(Anjali 06pts)  36-16[19-04,06-02,11-08,00-02]

GROUP D

2. Telangana(Y. Hemalatha 20pts, Rickit Reddy 16pts) bt Bihar(Muskan 14pts) 70-23[10-08,20-6,18-2,22-7]

GROUP E

1. West Bengal(Shreya 14pts) bt Jharkhand(Sanjana 5 pts) 36-11[14-04,8-5,9-0,5-2]

2. Gujarat(Naomi 11pts, Priscilla 6pts) bt Assam() 28-06[14-0,7-4,7-2,0-0]

GROUP F

1. Odisha(Khushi 12pts, Sama 10pts) bt Uttrakhand(Anita 6 pts) 37-19[12-3,5-6,12-6,8-4]

2. Andhra Pradesh(Sudha 13pts, Pallavi 7pts) bt Himachal Pradesh(Sukhmandeep 8pts) 34-26[2-4,8-6,16-10,8-6]

by Abhishek Shukla

Defending Champs M.P. Boys remain unbeaten on the 2nd day of the 44th Sub Junior National Championship

Bengaluru/Didwana 9th October 2017: The 44th Sub Junior National Championship for Boys and Girls is being held at the Bangour college stadium, Didwana, Rajasthan from 8th to 14th October 2017. The Championship is being organized by the Rajasthan Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India. The prestigious Championship will feature 30 boys’ teams and 24 girls’ teams in the U14 age group, from various Indian States and Union territories, and will be played in a league cum knockout format. The Results from the first two days of the championship are as follows:

 

 

DAY 2, 9th October 2017, Results Till 11.30 A.M

BOYS

LEVEL 1

 

GROUP A

1. Madhya Pradesh(Rishikesh 13pts, Gopi 12 pts) bt Maharashtra(Rehan 10pts, Adnan 9pts) 72-33[14-03,25-11,19-10,14-9]

GROUP B

1. Haryana(Mohit 30pts, Vikas 13pts) bt Odisha(Ankit 6pts) 53-19[16-10,5-3,17-0,15-6]

 

LEVEL 2

 

GROUP C

1. Nagaland(Thejazo 20pts, Ruokuovoy 8pts) bt Puducherry(Nandan 12pts, Srivatsan 7pts) 36-34[10-8,4-12,12-6,10-8]

2. Gujuarat(Pavan 11 pts) bt Goa(Sahil 7pts) 31-12[7-6,10-0,10-2,5-4]

GROUP D

1. Mizoram(VL. B. 6pts) bt Tripura(Prasendit 6pts) 38-10[18-0,10-0,8-8,2-2]

2. Chandigarh(Sunny 20pts, Abhishek 18pts) bt  Himachal Pradesh(Yajush 9pts, Arman 6pts) 53-23[21-06,01-05,10-00,12-12]

GROUP E

1. Meghalaya(Lawrence 20pts, jaffrey 7pts)  bt  Uttrakhand(Pratyush 7pts) 48-23[16-02,8-7,8-3,16-11]

2. Bihar(Manvesh 12pts, Siddharth 11pts) bt Jammu and Kashmir(Vishal 5pts)43-23[12-08,10-08,14-4,9-3]
GROUP F

1. Manipur(Tanson 9pts, K. Jetli 8pts) bt West Bengal(Prakash 9pts) 36-29[7-4,9-8,7-10,13-5]

2. Assam(Rahul 26pts, Praveen 12 pts, Parri 12pts) bt Jharkhand(Aditya 14pts, Siddharth 10pts) 59-45[16-10,3-13,28-14,12-8]

 

GIRLS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Maharashtra(Danira 8pts, Shomira 7pts) bt Delhi() 44-17[13-04,12-05,11-04,8-4]

GROUP C

1. Tamil nadu(Sathya 18pts, Sadhana 8pts) bt  Punjab(Vrinda 8pts) 53-23[13-4,14-4,8-3,18-12]

 

Day 1, 8th October 2017

BOYS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Andhra Pradesh(Ch. Sai Babu 18pts, Sai Charan 8pts) bt Telangana(Sourav Dehraan 25 pts, Chandrahaas 7 pts) 53-50[15-15,17-08,13-11,08-16]

2. Madhya Pradesh(Bhagat 20pts, Gopi 12pts) bt Punjab(Vikas 13pts, Mandeep 11pts) 57-52[16-11,10-16,19-15,12-10]

 

GROUP B

1. Rajasthan(Lokendra Singh 24pts, Jaideep Rathore 21pts) bt   Uttar Pradesh(Shreyansh 14pts) 71-58[20-14,15-6,18-16,18-22]

2.  Chhattisgarh(Deepak 13 pts, Shivanand 12 pts) bt Odisha(Ankit 8pts, Sasank 8pts) 48-38[11-07, 19-04, 10-13, 08-14]

 

 

 

LEVEL 2

GROUP C

1. Karnataka(Harsh 14pts, Dibya 11pts, Akshay 9 pts) bt Puducherry(Nanda 10pts, Srivatsan 4pts)  50-26[13-02,14-10,9-12,14-2]

2. Gujarat(Aryan 12pts, Ayan Khan 9pts) bt Nagaland(Dziese 9pts, Kikrusietube 4pts)  40-22[10-6,8-6,11-3,11-7]

3. Karnataka(Vedanth 15 pts, Akshay 7pts) bt Goa(Mokshad 6 pts) 50-14[15-04, 10-00, 9-6, 16-04]

GROUP D

1. Kerela(Rinil C.K 14pts, Athul 11pts) bt Tripura(Ramesh D 8pts)  72-09[16-0,21-7,17-2,18-0]

2. Mizoram(Jacob 10pts, Lalhmangaixg 10pts) bt Himachal Pradesh(Arman 14pts, Japreet 10pts) 52-42[10-11,12-8,10-4,20-19]

3. Kerela(Jordan 19pts, Athul 12 pts) bt Chandigarh(Sunny 21pts, Nitesh 12pts)59-47[6-11,14-16,24-6,15-14]

GROUP E

1. Tamil Nadu(Gowtham 18pts, Shibi 16pts) bt Uttrakhand(Karan Sood 5pts) 77-12[23-04,18-05,16-02,20-01]

2. Meghalaya(Lawerence 26pts, Jeffrey 08pts) bt Jammu and Kashmire(Azhar 7pts) 59-19[12-6,12-5,17-04,18-4]

3. Tamil Nadu(Sharan 8pts, Shibi 6pts) bt Bihar(Sidharth 7pts) 43-19[13-08,12-01,8-2,10-8]

GROUP F

1. Manipur(Tanson 16pts, K. Jetli 14pts) bt Jharkhand(Shoaib Khan 9pts) 46-29[13-12,16-4,5-8,12-10]

2. Assam(Parri 25pts, Parveen 10pts ) bt Delhi(Upanshu 16pts, yatish 6pts) 45-43[4-9,4-10,20-8,187-16]

 

GIRLS

LEVEL 1

GROUP A

1. Maharashtra(Bhakti 08 pts) bt Rajasthan(Divisha 06 pts) 45-20[10-03,12-05,09-09,14-04]

GROUP B

1. Karnataka(Sunishka 13pts, Vedaa 10pts) bt  Uttar Pradesh(Nadani 12pts, Sumira 8pts) 37-35[15-08,00-05,09-10,13-12]

LEVEL 2

GROUP C

1. Haryana(Ritika 11 pts, Tina 11pts) bt Chandigarh(Anjali 06pts)  36-16[19-04,06-02,11-08,00-02]

GROUP D

2. Telangana(Y. Hemalatha 20pts, Rickit Reddy 16pts) bt Bihar(Muskan 14pts) 70-23[10-08,20-6,18-2,22-7]

GROUP E

1. West Bengal(Shreya 14pts) bt Jharkhand(Sanjana 5 pts) 36-11[14-04,8-5,9-0,5-2]

2. Gujarat(Naomi 11pts, Priscilla 6pts) bt Assam() 28-06[14-0,7-4,7-2,0-0]

GROUP F

1. Odisha(Khushi 12pts, Sama 10pts) bt Uttrakhand(Anita 6 pts) 37-19[12-3,5-6,12-6,8-4]

2. Andhra Pradesh(Sudha 13pts, Pallavi 7pts) bt Himachal Pradesh(Sukhmandeep 8pts) 34-26[2-4,8-6,16-10,8-6]

by Abhishek Shukla

44th Sub Junior National Basketball Championship to tip off in Didwana from 8th October

Bengaluru 7th October 2017: The 44th Sub Junior National Championship for Boys and Girls will be held at the Bangour college stadium, Didwana, Rajasthan. The Championship is being organized by the Rajasthan Basketball Association under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India.

The opening ceremony will be held on Sunday, 8th October with Mr. Yoonus Khan, PWD and Transportation Minister of Rajasthan as the Chief Guest. The fixtures and groupings have been announced. The prestigious Championship will feature 30 boys’ teams and 24 girls’ teams in the U14 age group, from various Indian States and Union territories, and will be played in a league cum knockout format.

The teams are grouped into two levels –Level 1 features the top 10 teams from the previous championship divided into two groups of five teams each (Group A and B), while Level 2 features the remaining teams divided into four groups (Group C, D, E, F). In the league stages, all the teams play each of the other teams in their group once. The top three teams from each of the groups in Level 1 advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the fourth placed teams play pre-quarterfinal games against the top two teams from Level 2. The teams that finish last in each of the groups in Level 1 are relegated to Level 2 for the next edition of the tournament, while the Level 2 teams that qualified for the pre-quarterfinals will replace them in Level 1 in the next edition.

by Abhishek Shukla

Team ONGC all set to participate in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017

Bengaluru/Chenzhou, 21st September2017: Team ONGC is all set to participate in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017, which will be held from 22-30 September at the Chenzhou Sports Complex, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.

The ONGC team will be lead by the veteran Indian wingman Vishesh Bhriguvanshi alongside a few other significant experienced players like Yadwinder Singh, Muraleekrishna Ravindran, Arjun Singh and Riyaz Uddin. The team will surely miss its star Centre Amritpal Singh who is currently playing for the Sydney Kings in the NBL. The rest of the team comprises  Mohit Bhandari, Vinay Dabas, Anoop Mukkanniyil, Abhishek Rai and Udaibhan Singh Rawat.

ONGC will be opening their campaign against the Taipei Dacin Tigers on 22nd September at 1430 local time(1200 IST) followed by games against China Kashgar(24th September 1930 local time/1700 IST), Al Riyadi (25th September 2130 local time/1900 IST) and Al Ahli (26th September 1430 local time/1200 IST).

ONGC were drawn into Group B together with Al Ahli of UAE, Al Riyadi of Lebanon, Dacin Tigers of Chinese Taipei and defending champions China Kashgar. The top four teams in each group will move on to the knockout Quarter-Finals, where the winners will advance to the Semi-Finals. The winners in the Semi-Finals will compete for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017 crown in the Final. ONGC fell short of making it past the group phase in last year’s Champions Cup, losing all their three games, but they are aiming for a higher finish this time around.

For further updates and news you can also check the official event website: www.fiba.basketball/asiachampionscup/2017

ONGC India roster for FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017

Jersey No. Family Name(s)

/ Last Name

 First Name(s)

/ Given Name

 Date of Birth

(dd/mm/yyyy)

 Place of Birth

(City and State)

 Height

(cm)

(ft & inches)

 Weight

(kg)

 Position
4

RAI

Abhishek

16/12/1995

Varanasi

U.P.

 186(6’1″) 74

G
8

MUKKANNIYIL

Anoop

30/05/1986

Kozhikode

Kerela

 198(6’5″) 96

C
9

BHRIGUVANSHI

Vishesh

13/09/1991

Varanasi

U.P.

 192(6’3″) 91

SG
10

SINGH

Yadwinwer

30/12/1986

Rasulpur Khurd

Haryana

 198(6’5″) 94

PF
11

BHANDARI

Mohit

22/11/1981

Bhilwara

Rajasthan

 186(6’1″) 66

SG
13

UDDIN

Riyaz

22/06/1981

Bhopal

M.P.

 186(6’1″) 88

PG
14

RAVINDRAN

Muraleekrishna

25/02/1979

Karuvatta

Cereal

 203(6’6.6″) 112

C
24

DABAS

Vinay

12/07/1990

Kanjhawala

Delhi

 186(6’1″) 84

G
88

SINGH

Arjun

08/06/1992

Varanasi

U.P.

 186(6’1″) 73

PG
99

RAWAT

Udaibhan Singh

06/05/1991

Haldwani

Uttarakhand

 174(5’7″) 76

PG
Team Manager Mr. Vikas TOMAR
Coach Mr. Trideep RAI
Assistant Coach Mr. Dinesh KUMAR
Official Dr. Raj Kumar DUBEY
Physiotherapist Mr. Aftab AHMED
by Abhishek Shukla

India crowned 2nd SABA U16 Zone Champions

Bengaluru/Kathmandu, 9th September 2017: The Indian U16 men’s team has beaten Bhutan 131-50 and is now the SABA U16 Zone Champion. The Championship was held at the Dashrath Rangshala Stadium, Kathmandu.

In India’s last game, guard Binod Rajak and Centre Princepal Singh (who is the highest scorer in the Championship) chipped in with 20 points each. Overall, seven Indian players scored in double digits.

For his consistent showing, Princepal was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Championship

Team India was a dominant force throughout the Championship, as they scored more than 100 points on three different occasions and limited their opponents to 50 or lesser points on multiple occasions. The stats speak for itself as India now cruise into the FIBA U16 Asian Championship with ease, which will be held in Malaysia later this year.

India (Princepal SIngh 20 pts, Binod Rajak 20 pts, Prashant Tomar 16 pts) bt Bhutan 131-50 [40-7, 20-21, 41-10, 30-12]

by Abhishek Shukla

India one win away from being crowned SABA U16 Zone Champs

Bengaluru/Kathmandu, 8th September 2017: The Indian U16 men’s team has beaten Nepal 106-39 on the third day of the 2nd SABA U16 Zone Championship being held at the Dashrath Rangshala Stadium, Kathmandu. Centre Princepal Singh from India continued his extraordinary form leading all scorers with 45 points and single-handedly dominating over the Nepal team. Overall, three Indian players scored in double digits.

Team India showcased a strong performance on both the ends of the floor not allowing any more than three Nepal players to score. India had a double digit lead over Nepal from the beginning of the game and finished even stronger.

Moving ahead, the 3-0 India are the strongest contenders for the championship, as they take on Bhutan on 9th September at 11:00 am (10:45 IST) in their final game.

If India wins tomorrow, it qualifies to the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship that will be held in Malaysia later this year.

India (Princepal SIngh 45 pts, Priyanshu 12 pts, Jerome Prince 10 pts) bt Nepal (Abhisekh Singh 20 pts) 106-39 [26-12, 24-7, 32-12, 24-8]