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.
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