NBL to tip off in mid-February - President promises increased funding for contestants, prize monies

The much-anticipated start of the National Basketball League (NBL) is set for the middle of next month, this according to president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), Ajani Williams.

The NBL, which was scheduled to begin in August, has been postponed on a number of occasions by JaBA. But Williams told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday that all is now in place for the start of the competition.

"The launch should be in mid-February. This is the fairly estimated time providing there are no other glitches," Williams said.

"The sponsors have agreed to that and everybody is on board with that now and we want to get the show on the road because we don't want to wait until March or any other time," he said.

Williams stated that the competition, which will run for four months, has also attracted one new sponsor that will bring the number of contributing firms to three.

"This gives us one more diverse sponsor to help push the brand of the NBL forward," Williams said.

He continued: "This also means that more money will be going to the teams and I think we will be doubling their start-up funds and also their prize winnings will go up a hundred per cent," Williams pointed out.

"I think that rewards are always based on sacrifice and I think we have sacrificed a lot over the last four months to try and get it right, to position the NBL for growth and success," he said.

Waiting for start

Williams does not believe the delay will affect the turnout for games because everybody has been waiting for the start.

"I think that everybody is a bit anxious and the players are a bit rusty, but some teams have been practising and they have been picking up the pace and I just think that everybody just wants to play basketball," Williams reasoned.

"I think that in the first three weeks some players will have a bit of cobweb, but I think once the league gets moving, by the fourth or fifth week, you are going to see good basketball," Williams pointed out.

Denise Williams, public relations manager of Flow, who are the title sponsors of the competition, said they are 'ready to go' when the sport's local governors say the word.

"The start date as to when the basketball league is going to play has to rest with JaBA and so I know they have been having some challenges and so that is for them to speak about," said Williams. "But as far as we are concerned we are ready to go," Williams added.

- R. B.