Odufuwa, Ebiega bag Crown Elite Basketball MVP awards

Kayinsola Odufuwa of Gombe Bulls and Joy Ebiega of First Bank were the shining stars at the Crown Elite Sports Awards, which celebrated outstanding stars at the 10th-anniversary gala of the event at the weekend.

The duo took the Most Valuable Basketball Player awards in the male and female categories respectively, while Kwara Falcons’ Chief Coach, Baba Jibril and Coach Taye Adeniyi of First Bank, won the man and Women’s Coach of the Year Awards respectively.

Zenith Bank, Total Energies and MFM also got recognition Awards for Excellence.

The Crown Elite 10th anniversary celebrations started with an exhibition game between Ebun Comets and Raptors, which was won by Ayodele Bakare-tutored Comets, 48-49.

The second day saw an All-star contest featuring players selected from the Oceanic and Sahel conferences, with the Oceanic Conference ladies, coached by Coach Taye Adeniyi, winning the trophy and cash prize N50, 000 for per player. They defeated their Sahel counterparts narrowly by 45- 44 points.

Captain of the Sahel Conference, Nkem Akariaye and Favour Essien of Oceanic Conference were the highest scorers in then ladies’ game.

Odunfa Konyinsola recorded the highest points (25) as Oceanic Conference’s men also won the play-off with 78 to 69 points. His closest rival, Francis Nworaka of the Sahel Conference had 15 points.

Other winners at the event were Regina Donanu of MFM Basketball Club, who won the best women’s playmaker award and Victor Ezeh of Kwara Falcons, Best Playmaker (men).

Custom’s Nkem Akariwe was declared the female Best Defensive Player, just as Rivers Hoopers’ captain, Victor Koko, won the Defensive Player of Pear (men) award.