Mr Terfa Akpoyibo, the Project Manager of Power Forward, has commended Sam Oguche for his constant effort towards basketball development in Nigeria.

Akpoyibo made the remarks while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the 2023 Sam Oguche/Bullet Energy Drink Invitational Tournament's final at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Friday.

Akpoyibo noted that the quality of the tournament was top notch, adding that grassroots basketball was taking shape and development in the FCT.

The five-day tournament which dunked off on Monday ended on Friday with Gboko City Chiefs defeating Mak Town Flyers basketball club 90-77 in the final to emerge champions.

Gboko City Chiefs smiled to the bank with a N1 million prize money, while Mark Town basketball club settled for the N500,000 runners up reward.

"The matches were tightly contested and it was a very competitive final game at the end between the two teams.

"What I am really excited about is the number of energetic young people having a platform and opportunity to express themselves.

"If these young people are not on the court, where would they have been?

"Some of them would have been out there engaging in negative vices as the saying goes, 'an idle mind is the devil's workshop'.

"So, I am happy because grassroots basketball is taking shape and when you see people train at the grassroots and then they have opportunity to play professional and more competitive games, it means that the game of basketball is developing," he said.

The Sports administrator stressed that the tournament was a huge opportunity and a very successful event, adding that he was very happy and grateful to the organisers.

He said the prize money was encouraging and a way of motivating the players to put in their best and showcase their God-given talents.

"When they are playing for a prize you see them give their all and that's why you saw the level of competition and engagement during the tournament.

"I want to encourage more sponsors to come on board and lend their support to

"Once you have sporting events and you have sponsors to back you up, you will always see the best.

"The players practice and train hard for such tournaments so that whatever skills and talents they possess, they have opportunity to display it and expect to be rewarded accordingly.

"I also hope that this will be replicated across every other sports and not just basketball," he said.