Basketball
D’Tigers Unveil 12-Man Squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has announced D’Tigers’ final 12-man roster for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers, with the team set to begin a new chapter under head coach David Fizdale.
The squad features a blend of experienced international stars and emerging talents as Nigeria aims to secure qualification for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
D’Tigers’ 12-Man Squad:
Uchenna Iroegbu
Ikenna Iroegbu
Caleb Agada
Martins Igbanu
Paul Dibal
Stanley Okoye
Daniel Utomi
Chimezie Metu
Wesley Iwundu
Christian Mekowulu
Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu
Michael Eric
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C alongside Guinea, Rwanda and Tunisia for Window 3 of the African Qualifiers, which will be held in Luanda, Angola, from July 2 to 5, 2026.
D’Tigers’ Fixtures:
July 2: Tunisia vs Nigeria
July 3: Nigeria vs Guinea
July 5: Nigeria vs Rwanda
The qualifiers present a crucial opportunity for D’Tigers to strengthen their push for a place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027.
The top-performing teams from the African qualifying campaign will progress toward securing tickets to the global tournament.
The announcement also marks the beginning of a new era for Nigerian basketball under Fizdale, who is assisted by an experienced technical crew comprising David Vanterpool, Ekpe Udoh, Caesar Adim and Deji Akindele.
With a roster combining size, athleticism, defensive intensity and international experience, expectations are high as D’Tigers target a strong performance in Luanda and take another step towards returning to the world stage.
The post D’Tigers Unveil 12-Man Squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers first appeared on Sports247 Nigeria.
The post D’Tigers Unveil 12-Man Squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Basketball
NLEX crushes Titan Ultra, stays unbeaten for solo PBA Group A lead
ANTIPOLO — NLEX netted their third win in as many games after dealing Titan Ultra yet another disappointing loss, 135-100, to grab the solo lead in Group A of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Tuesday at the Ynares Center here.
Not wanting a repeat of their near-collapse versus Terrafirma the last time out in Montalban, the Road Warriors played more consistently this time, building a big lead in the second chapter before breaking away for good in the fourth.
The crew actually lost in the third canto when they allowed the opposition to get as close as nine behind a 39-point production, but quickly restored order before the quarter ended, and then put it away not long after to keep their record intact.
Deschon Winston led NLEX with 30 points alongside nine rebounds and six assists, with Robert Bolick dropping 29 points and seven rebounds in easily his best game scoring-wise since Coach Jimmy Alapag took over.
Import DeQuan Jones finished with 22 points and six rebounds, while Kevin Alas tallid a 14-5-4 stat line to lead the bench mob in the victory.
The post NLEX crushes Titan Ultra, stays unbeaten for solo PBA Group A lead appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
Basketball
NBBF Will Continue To Lubricate Fan Belts Of Talent Production In Nigeria – Musa Kida
The president of Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Ahmad Kusa Kida has come out with a bold pledge that the governing body for the giants’ sport will continue ‘lubricating the fan belts of talent production’ to ensure that more players are produced for the future.
Sports247 reports that Engineer Kida gave the assurance while commenting on the recent feat of the country’s cadet men’s national team in winning the FIBA Africa Zone 3 U18 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Kida was beaming with delight, after seeing the team win all four of their matches to top Zone 3 and secure automatic qualification for the finals, scheduled for August 3rd to 6th in Côte d’Ivoire, where they will play along with the country’s females, who earlier secured automatic qualification.
The U18 Tigers pulled off a perfect 4-0 record by defeating Benin Republic 96-35 and 101-43 as well as trouncing Burkina Faso 98-54 and 100-54 in their double-layered games to emerge champions of the sub-region and qualified for the Africa FIBA U18 Championship.
With attention now shifting to the continental assault, Kida revealed that the NBBF is already working hard to consolidate the results ahead of the 2026 U18 AfroBasket and gave credit to collective effort from every member of the federation’s board for the conquest in Ouagadougou.
“The NBBF shall continue to lubricate the fan belts of the talent production factories of the game in Nigeria,” Kida submitted, while pointing out that the current leadership of basketball in the country is prioritising efforts in grassroots development, without neglecting other aspects of the game.
The post NBBF Will Continue To Lubricate Fan Belts Of Talent Production In Nigeria – Musa Kida appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.
Basketball
Joaquin Tovera finds home at La Salle, puts family above all
Joaquin Tovera has found his new collegiate home.
Days after announcing his decommitment from the University of the Philippines, the reigning FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers Most Valuable Player has committed to De La Salle University, being eligible starting UAAP Season 89.
For the 18-year-old guard, the decision went beyond basketball.
“At the end of the day, family was the biggest reason behind my decision,” Tovera said.
“I’ve always been closest to the people who have supported me since day one, and knowing I’ll be in an environment where I can be near them gives me a lot of peace and confidence. That support system means everything to me, and I believe it will help me become a better player and an even better person.”
Tovera has deep connections with the Cortez family, having previously played alongside Mikey Cortez during their time with Tumakbo Basketball.
(C) DLSU
The relationship extends beyond the court, with La Salle legend Mike Cortez being the cousin of Gregg Rivera, Tovera’s uncle, making the Green Archers a familiar environment for the young playmaker.
His commitment comes just days after he revealed that he was reopening his recruitment despite seeing action for the Fighting Maroons during the 2026 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
During his brief stint with UP, Tovera contributed across three games, tallying six points, five assists, and two steals against De La Salle. He followed with seven points and three assists versus Far Eastern University, before making his first start against Mapua in the quarterfinals.
He also suited up for Gilas Pilipinas Boys in the same tournament, averaging 18.5 points and 7.0 assists per contest.
Now set to wear the green and white, Tovera is eager to begin the next chapter of his basketball journey.
“I’m really excited to join De La Salle University and become part of such a proud basketball program,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to learning from the coaches, competing with my new teammates, and doing everything I can to help us succeed. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Despite his move, Tovera stressed that he leaves UP with nothing but appreciation for the Fighting Maroons.
“I’ll always be grateful to UP for welcoming me into the program and believing in me,” he said.
“The coaches, my teammates, and everyone behind the team treated me with so much respect, and I’ll always appreciate the opportunity they gave me. I have nothing but gratitude for my time there and wish UP nothing but success moving forward.”
The post Joaquin Tovera finds home at La Salle, puts family above all appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
-
News5 months agoCamilla Lamina shows calm leadership even off the bench
-
DLSU5 months agoShan Nunag shows composure beyond year in La Salle debut
-
Football5 months ago
2026 Uganda Cup: The confirmed fixtures, venues & kick off times at round of 32
-
Foreign Pros5 months ago
‘Eric Chelle must pay compensation to quit Super Eagles post’
-
Cricket News5 months agoT20 World Cup 2026: 'We've got to stay positive' – Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott remains hopeful of reaching Super 8 despite back-to-back losses
-
Football5 months ago
Divine Mukasa plays full time as Leicester City bows out of FA Cup to Southampton
-
Others5 months ago
Sarah Babirye Kityo: The majestic return to 12th Parliament, to front sports talent development
-
CAF5 months agoAFCON 2025: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, and Why African Football Is at a Crossroads
