NBL set to Flow - After long delay, league shoots off Sunday

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Finally, the Flow National Basketball League (NBL) has been launched. And it has come with a flourish, boosted by a $27-million sponsorship package for three years by its title sponsor, telecommunications providers Flow.

Sharon Roper, director of marketing at Flow, made the announcement during a press launch at The Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday.

"We are very pleased to be at the forefront of making basketball happen at this time, hence our increased sponsorship which we believe will make a significant contribution on improving the sport of basketball in Jamaica," said Roper.

"We at Flow are especially gratified to see so many young Jamaicans given an opportunity for meaningful, productive activity that has the potential to be a tremendous source of self-fulfilment and revenue for these individuals, their community and for Jamaica as a whole," Roper continued.

She added: "We view our association with the sport as more than just a sponsorship. We see it as a partnership, an investment in local basketball and a way in which we can help develop the sport and expose more of our top local talent to both local and international audiences."

Associate sponsors Burger King and Malta have also signed three-year sponsorships contracts worth $5 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

Very delighted

Ajani Williams, president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), said he was very delighted for the sponsorships and support from corporate Jamaica in helping with the development of basketball across the country.

"We are pleased that Flow has decided to continue their support of basketball in Jamaica. Their involvement will surely change the structure of basketball in this country, as well as to stabilise the league as we move forward to a more professional set-up," said Williams.

"This is wonderful because we are now in the class of football, and thanks to Flow, Burger King and Malta, we are in a unique class of sports because we are one of the few sports properties to garner this type of sponsorship," he explained.

Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their contribution.

"I am very happy that the support is there from the sponsors and I am glad that Burger King is back on board, and that Flow has increased its support for basketball," said Grange.

"It is the fastest-growing sport in Jamaica and it is a sport that has penetrated communities islandwide, and the support that is now given by the sponsors will help in terms of social-intervention programmes in communities and will strengthen basketball and, of course, JaBA will benefit from all of this," Grange added.

Travelling expenses

Each participating team will receive $65,000, which will go towards their travelling expenses and other needs. The winners of the competition will receive $500,000, while the runners-up will collect $250,000 and the third-place team $150,000. Fourth will earn $100,000.

"This is one of the biggest sponsorships ever because these are dreams that have been realised, but this is not the end of the dream, this is about execution, and if we don't execute it we could lose some of this value," Williams pointed out.

The league, which should have started from August last year, is set to tip off on Sunday with newcomers Waterhouse opposing Swift Sons, while the second game will be a repeat of last year's final between defending champions Tivoli Gardens All Stars and Majesty Gardens.

Twenty-seven teams are down to take part in this year's competition, playing in four conferences. Twelve will compete in Southern Conference, while five each will take part in the Central, Eastern and Western conferences.

The competition, which will run for four months, will see matches being played in six venues across the island - National Stadium courts, University of Technology, Manchester High School, Montego Bay Cricket Club, Folly Oval in Portland and the Morant Bay court by the sea.