Organisers slam rumours

THE National Souths Basketball League (NSBL) has clarified its major set-back in a media conference on Friday regarding what transpired during the tournament’s grand finals last week in Lae.
Following social media speculations, it was alleged that the tournament was not successfully completed and had resulted in total chaos during the grand final day.
“In view of the major set-back, the tournament experienced at the hands of some self-centered and negatively motivated individuals, the board had to step in swiftly to take charge and save the tournament from been disrupted,” patron Johnny Yawari told The National.
“There is no place in the sporting arena for individuals who choose to engage in such tactics to hijack and sabotage sporting tournaments. No individual is greater than the larger interest of a sporting code period.
“I want to confirm that the tournament was successfully completed with the 2024 men’s and women’s champions Usano Sura Souths and Sumale Souths, both winning K25,000 each.
“For the men’s runners-up Kikori Souths, women’s Kapula Souths each walked away with K15,000 each.”
Yawari said the NSBL board apologise to all participating teams particularly potential contenders of the finals due to the unfortunate disruption and premature announcement of the cancellation of the finals by officials.
He added that in regards to sponsorship funding, the board only accountable to its sponsors in terms of the usage of funds in the running of events and to the National Basketball Federation for upholding the rules and standards.
Yawari said they would not be accountable to technical and management officials, nor to any participating teams in the tournaments and therefore not subjected to these entities.
“Take note, participating teams in NSBL sanctioned tournaments, are not affiliates of NSBL, therefore the board is not accountable to these teams,” he stressed about the tournament.
“But we acknowledge that there is room for improvements in all facets of the running of this tournament in the future and look forward to taking on those adjustments for the betterment of NSBL,” Yawari said.