Four Teams have been invited to NBI ‘23. Here is a quick look at the stars and potential standouts.
As the big day approaches, we take a look at the four (4) teams invited to the maiden edition of the National Basketball Invitational scheduled for 22nd and 23rd December 2023. The Spintex Knights, Nungua Coldstore, Shai Hills Geekrons and Tema Marines will have the attention of the basketball community in Ghana.
The four (4) invited teams competing in the 2023 National Basketball Invitational. From left to right: Coldstore, Geekrons, Knights and Marines. Background image credit: Yaw Pare Photography
SPINTEX KNIGHTS
The Spintex Knights are coming off a highly successful campaign in the Greater-Accra Basketball Division 1 League. They are being led by an ambitious owner in Dr Eric Opoku Antwi , a knowledgeable head coach in Selorm Thomas and arguably the best player in Ghana at the moment, dynamic and explosive guard, James Amotoe. We can expect an elite guard play from the Knights with that back-court combination of James Amotoe, Treasure Botchwey and team captain Elvis Siaw Pobi. The front-court will be led by co-captain and rebounding machine Benjamin Omari-Mensah and tough forwards in Abdul Salim Mustapha, Kuuku Mensah Baidoo and explosive Benjamin Ashitei. Going into the tournament, the Knights look like the clear favourites, but they have to overcome their rivals from the other side of town the Nungua Coldstore.
NUNGUA COLDSTORE
This is an all-round young and exciting team. The players are very much connected to the hip-pop culture and basketball. They are tough, skilled and motivated. At the time of this writeup, the team roster was still unknown. Coldstore is a very deep and balanced team at all positions. Their coach, Wendell Otoo is an aggressive recruiter and has players from all over the country playing on his team. They have experienced captain Kwame Boamah Gyan, reliable guard play and tough and explosive Mantse. They recently lost their game with a side in the D2 league (although already promoted to DI), but the team was competing in two different games that day. One at the University of Ghana in the Swish Basketball Tournament, at the same time playing in a Final playoffs game. Let’s conclude that the team is deep enough to win it all at the National Basketball Invitational with a complete side regardless of the strength of the other opponents.
TEMA MARINES
The Marines are a collection of local talents and stars from the home court (Chinese Court). They will be coached by former Tema standout talent for Tema Youth, Aninagyei Osei-Dwamena and assisted by the man everyone calls Bonto, Emmanuel Kwesi Danso, founder and organiser of the Clutch Junior League in Tema. The team has been built around explosive guard, Nii Moi of Tema Youth fame and a number of high flying forwards to provide support upfront. As Tema is considered the Mecca of basketball in Ghana, we know the lads will bring the heat into the tournament and could pull an upset.
SHAI HILLS GEEKRONS
Winners of the Streetball Tournament played this year, the Geekrons are a high energy, tough and resilient basketball team. The have an experienced coach in Nii Quaye and share the ball really well when they attack. The greatest advantage they have now is the element of surprise since the other teams are yet to compete against them. Additionally, they move the ball really well and are balanced in their attack. Their defensive presence is worth highlighting: you can win games with scoring, but your ability to stop others from scoring is what wins championships. The Geekrons will face Coldstore in the opening game at 3:00 pm on 22nd December 2023. It will be exciting game.
The 2023 National Basketball Invitational feels like a tournament we will be talking about for years to come. We are excited about the impact these teams are having on the game of basketball in Ghana and wish all of them the very best in their quest to win it all.
