The Liberia Basketball Association dished out several awards on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the SKD gym.
The ceremony was in recognition of the best performers during the 2024 League Season.
During the ceremony, the President of the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA), Abraham Samukai, recounted numerous gains made by the federation under his watch.
The LAB boss pointed out the lifting of suspension by FIBA-Africa, the under-18 male and female teams participation in international competition for the first time since 2007, and the hosting of the WBLA zone 3.
International training for Liberian referees, Youth basketball camp for players and coaches, Barrolle’s participation in the inter club championship tournament, Testing of referees and technicians, Technical assistance from FIBA
Balls, game clocks, 24-second clocks, among others.
“To our partners, including FIBA Zone-3, sponsors, and the Liberia National Olympics Committee (LNOC), thanks for the support. We will always deliver once the necessary support from you is still coming.”
“The government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has always stood by us; continue trusting us as we move ahead. We are in the rebranding process of taking our game to another level.”
The LBA boss also congratulated the various winners over what he called a job well done on their part.
“Again, basketball has won; our purpose of coming to this gym every evening is to cheer our respective clubs to victory. The fact that we can reach this far by seeing others crowned as champions speaks volumes. This is just a courage that if you don’t win today, you can win tomorrow, he added”.
Below are some of the award winners:
Rose Emmanuel, Most Valuable Player and Top scorer (MVP), Women’s Division, Commissioners
Fanta Jalloh, Women’s Division, Best defender, Commissioners
Korpo Sumo, Highest Assist and Playoff Most Valuable Player-Women’s Division, Commissioners
Ginny Johnson, Highest Steal, Women’s Division
Ayouba Swaray, Vision Shooters-2nd division, MVP and Highest Scorer
Emmanuel Johnson, Playoff MVP-2nd division, MVP
Samuel Wesley, Most Improved 3rd division player
Blessing Nath, Most Defensive Player, 2nd division
Orlando Boye, II, Highest Block, 2nd division
Abel Glay, Jr, Highest Steal, 2nd division
Osuman Kaiza, MVP, 3rd division
Wallace Seongbae, Playoff Most Valuable Player, 3rd
Jerror Tarrow, the Most Defensive Player, 3rd division
Zwannay Taylor, Referee of the year
Veteran Fred JA Pratt, LBA Lifetime Achievement
award
Mighty Barrolle’s Joel Martor swept two awards, MVP Top and Highest Assist; Omar Samba and Joseph Gubizie accumulated an award each.
Here are cash prizes of various winners and runner-ups of every division:
3rd Division:
Winner: 100,000 LD
Runner-up: 50,000 LD
2nd Division:
Winner: 125,000 LD
Runner-up: 75,000 LD
Female Division:
Winner: 200,000 LD
Runner-up: 100,000 LD
1st Division:
Winner: 350,000 LD
Runner-up: 150,000 LD
