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.