Great interest for NSBL in Madang

By HENRY MORABANG
FIVE teams from the National Capital District are interested in participating at the fourth National South Basketball League championship in Madang over the Queen’s birthday next month.
Souths Basketball League president Silas Nicky said yesterday that Ela Beach Souths, led by Moses Nap, would be fielding two teams.
The other teams are Gerehu Souths and a women’s team, Souths from the Capital Basketball League.
Apart from NCD, most centres will be fielding team in the men’s and women’s division. They are Hagen Welgris, Kutubu Souths, Chimbu Souths, Goroka Souths, Madang Souths, Lae Snax Souths and Heganofi Souths.
Nicky said Goroka Souths were the men’s defending champions while Mendi Pesaps, who returned from the Arafura Games in Darwin, were the women’s champions.
However, they have yet to confirm their participation.
He added that the NCD Governor’s Cup basketball tournament at Ela Beach was creating a lot of awareness that had seen a lot of Southern Highlanders participating.
The tournament has also lured participants from Gulf, Central Morobe and Western who are residing at Kaugere, Konedobu and Hanuabada villages.
Nicky was also impressed that Kutubu Souths, one of the teams from the remote part of Southern Highlands, would be making the trip to Madang for the tournament.
He said Kawaso Ltd boss Kossy Sosoro had been supporting Kutubu Souths in past tournaments and was likely to continue helping the side with uniforms and other requirements.
Lae Snax Souths will be making their debut at the event.
Nicky added that he and his executives had been busy preparing for the challenge to ensure everything went smoothly.
“We have been in touch with Madang Basketball Association who will be hosting the National Souths Basketball tournament at Laiwaden Oval,” he said.