SPRITE SLAM EAST AFRICA TOUR ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE

The Sprite Slam East Africa Finals took place this weekend at the Nyayo National Stadium Basketball Gymnasium, bringing to an exciting close the high energy basketball season that has been taking place in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kenya’s U16 basketball team carried the day when they beat Uganda 30-18. The entertaining 5 on 5 match played full court, saw Uganda hit the opener with a quick basket from Tony Mayambala to lead 2-0. Kenya responded with a cancellation through the effort of Martin Mugambi to level 2-2. The two teams went on to tie in successive quarters, registering 5-5, 7-7 and 8-8 scores.



With legendary American basketball player Gary “The Glove” Payton, turning out as coach for the Kenyan team, and NBA’s Joby Wright extending his coaching expertise to the Ugandan side, both teams regaled basketball fans with their quick paces and sharpened skills, gained from a two day professional coaching clinic preceding the East African Finals.



The Ugandan Team emerged winners of the 3 on 3 basketball challenge, when they edged Kenya 18-17 in a closely contested final showdown. Both Kenya and Uganda had qualified with eight points from four wins and one loss leaving a good goal aggregate to separate them. The team took home the KShs 50,000 cash prize.
Sprite Slam is a brand experiential platform that is developed to play on the youth’s passion for basketball and allows them opportunities to express their individuality. Through leveraging basketball, it allows the brand to build a strong, differentiated and compelling brand asset, and have a meaningful presence in grassroots basketball as a means to building long lasting connections with teens and young adults.

This year’s edition of Sprite Slam kicked off in May this year, with a whistle-stop East African Tour by leading American street ball legends, AND 1 LIVE. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania rolled out country-wide Sprite Slam tournaments, with national finalists turning out for the two day professional basketball camp in Nairobi ahead of the East African Finals. NBA’s Gary “The Glove” Payton and Joby Wright conducted the two day camp with support from local basketball coaches Peter Kiganya (Kenya) and Nick Natuhereza (Uganda).

Individual accolades went to Kenya’s Joseph Ouma, who was voted both Most Valuable Player and Most Defensive Player. Eight players – Hamisi Taisir, Martin Mugambi, Joseph Ouma, Tony Mayambala, Daniel Ogwang, Francis Tome, Aaron Ojoo, Saiba Saidi and Issa Mrumbi – received Sprite Slam Challenge All Star trophies.



Sprite Slam is a brand experiential platform that is developed to play on the youth’s passion for basketball and allows them opportunities to express their individuality. Through leveraging basketball, it allows the brand to build a strong, differentiated and compelling brand asset, and have a meaningful presence in grassroots basketball as a means to building long lasting connections with teens and young adults.
The Sprite Slam Tour, which targets the 16 to 24 year age group, is sanctioned by the national basketball federations across East Africa. Its competitive nature provides young basketball players with a rewarding experience. Previous tours have seen young talent benefit from coaching clinics and basketball tours.

TOP NBA EXECS AT SPRITE SLAM FINALE

Glen Rice

The conclusion of the energetic Sprite Slam competition that was held in various towns in the country drew to a close on Friday (12 August) was conducted by former Los Angels Lakers NBA shooting star Glen Rice, NBA scout Bul Bior and Denver Nuggets Vice-President Masai Njiri.
Njiri, a Nigerian from a Kenyan mother who said:'' The game of basketball can be used as tool to education, meet people and get job s and the Kenyan youth have the needed talent''. Rice said,'' Kenya has the talent and the players who participated in the camp can do better than what I did during my NBA career.



Rice also added that he was impressed with the shooting talent of the young Kenyans.
The champs at the finale were all male team Beez who edged out the S.W.A.T.S 7-5 to clinch the 3 on 3 Sprite Slam National championship title at the University of Nairobi sports grounds.



The winners competed against a total of 7 men’s amongst them high schools, universities, colleges and clubs.
Beez who fielded regular premier league players led by Evans Leting of USIU-A Tigers team, Brian Busu of Co-op Bank along with Brian Shivachi and James Omweno had an advantage of experience over the Swats team of the U.o.N.
Another winner was Upper Hill School student Dominic Omunaka named as the best player and was chosen to represent Kenya in the Basketball without Borders four-day camp in Johannesburg South Africa in September.



Alongside basketball competitions, the youth demonstrated their talent in urban expression through graffiti and dance competitions and rap battles that saw Wycliffe Elegwa (Nairobi) emerge winner in the graffiti category. In the dance category Hotraxx (Kisumu) while in the freestyle category Joseph Collins Onyango A.K.A CJ Double O was crowned the national freestyle champ.



A host of celebrity artists graced the event with performances by Calif Records Mejja, Jimwat and Kendi, Ogopa DJ’s Avril and award-winning gospel artist Daddy Owen.
Additional Sprite Slam competitions are taking part in Uganda, Tanzania and Mozambique.

EX-NBA STAR STEVE SMITH IN KENYA

On Saturday, the finals for the Sprite Slam Basketball tournament will be graced by ex NBA star Steven Smith to identify young talent.
Steven will jet into the country on Thursday, September 23, afternoon in preparation for the finals at the Railway Club.
He will conduct training sessions together with Kenyan National Basketball Association in which he will identify the best 3 to fly to the USA and attend the NBA boot camp.



Steven, born March 31, 1969, in Highland Park, MI, attended Pershing High School. He went to college at Michigan State University where he was a star point guard.
Smith was selected fifth overall by the Miami Heat in the 1991 NBA Draft. His rookie season, Smith averaged 12.0 ppg and earned a spot on the 1992 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He played in Miami for three seasons before he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks just as the 1994-95 season was getting underway. Smith played for the Hawks for five seasons, including the 1997-98 season when he averaged 20.1 ppg and was named to the 1998 NBA All-Star Team.
On August 7, 1999, Smith was traded to the Portland Trailblazers where he played for two seasons. From there, Smith went on to play for a number of other teams including San Antonio, where he won the 2003 NBA Championship, New Orleans, and Charlotte, ultimately returning to Miami where he retired after the 2004-05 season.
Since his retirement, Smith has stayed close to NBA action. In 2005-06 season, he began serving as a color-commentator for the Atlanta Hawks. He worked for the Hawks for three seasons before joining NBA TV in 2008. He lives in Atlanta with Millie. The couple has two sons, Brayden and Davis.

SPRITE URBAN EXPRESSION GOES TO THE LAKESIDE CITY

This weekend at the Lakeside city, Sprite Urban Expression will be going down at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground.
The event kicks off at 10am. There will be full house entertainment all day.
Young and fresh graffiti, spoken word, freestyle hip-hop artists will battle it out to be the Nyanza champion that will represent the region in the National competition to be held in mid September in Nairobi. On the Court side there will be action by various Basketball teams, where the best 5 talented players will be picked to represent Nyanza province. All participating provinces will then meet in Nairobi for the Nationals in Mid September and the best three players from Kenya selected by Hasheem Thabeet and the Kenya Basket Ball Association officials will form part of the All African Star Team which will then proceed to the USA for a boot camp at the home of NBA.