Basketball stakeholders have renewed calls for the urgent revival of the country’s basketball administration.

They made the call at a special reception for Lagos Legends Basketball Club, the newly crowned champions of the 2025 Nigeria Basketball Premier League, on Monday night in Abuja.

The Legends won the Premier League title on November 24, defeating defending champions, Rivers Hoopers, 74-72 in a tense Final 4 decider on their home court in Port Harcourt.

Igoche Mark, owner of Markmentors Basketball Club, commanded the legends and described the feat as a “defining moment” for Nigerian basketball.

“The battle has just begun. Defending the title is one thing, but going to battle to represent Nigeria is another,” he said.

Mr Mark highlighted the unexpected rise of the legends, also known as the Maktown Flyers, whose success this season exceeded expectations and reflected the league’s growing competitive strength.

He said that their resilience and determination reflected the competitive strength emerging across the league.

Mr Mark expressed confidence that Maktown Flyers would set a new benchmark for Nigeria at the Basketball Africa League.

He also used the occasion to renew calls for a more structured domestic competition, noting that the current league format hinders long-term development.

He advocated for an overhaul of the local league’s structure, insisting that the NBBF must restore a proper home-and-away format if Nigerian basketball is to progress.

“We need a structured league. The old NBBF championship format (proper home-and-away league format) gave Nigerian basketball its identity and continuity. It must return. I call on government, private investors, cooperatives, and corporate bodies to support the Lagos Legends as they prepare to represent Nigeria on the continental stage. Benue State has shown support already. Now the private sector must join. Every contribution counts if we want to see Nigeria shine at BAL,” he explained.

Also speaking, Samuel Ahmadu, board member of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), praised the Legends’ grit but acknowledged deep-rooted challenges affecting the sport’s development.

“Winning in Port Harcourt is not easy. Rivers Hoopers are strong and experienced, but the truth is, our national league and the BAL are not on the same level. We have to rebuild,” he said.

Mr Ahmadu acknowledged that the NBBF’s prolonged reliance on an abridged league format, which has been in place for over five years, has stunted the growth of the sport.

“It is unacceptable and detrimental to basketball stakeholders across the country. We have failed our stakeholders,” he said.

He expressed hope that the next administration would prioritise accountability, structure, and long-term development planning.

Akerannan Manasseh, general manager of the Maktown Flyers, said the championship run was nothing short of miraculous.

“It was a tedious journey, but we pulled through. We took over this team just two and a half weeks before the league began. Navigating challenges in player recruitment and funding was tough. He said it was a five-year plan. I didn’t know it would happen this soon,” he said, smiling.

Mr Manasseh said the team is fully focused on making a strong impression at the BAL and remains open to sponsorships and collaborations to strengthen their continental campaigns.

 (NAN)