The Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) honored outstanding athletes and stakeholders during a prestigious awards ceremony at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Gymnasium on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The event recognized the best performers of the 2024 league season while highlighting the federation’s recent achievements under the leadership of LBA President Abraham Samukai.
In his remarks, Samukai emphasized the significant strides made by the LBA, including the lifting of FIBA-Africa’s suspension, the participation of Liberia’s U-18 male and female teams in international competitions for the first time since 2007, and the successful hosting of the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 qualifiers.
Additionally, the LBA boss acknowledged the international training programs for referees, the introduction of youth basketball camps for players and coaches, Barrolle’s participation in the Inter-Club Championship tournament, and the technical assistance received from FIBA, including essential equipment such as game balls, clocks, and shop clocks.
Samukai extended gratitude to key partners, including FIBA Zone-3, sponsors, and the Liberia National Olympic Committee (LNOC), for their continued support. He also praised the Ministry of Youth and Sports for standing by the LBA’s efforts to elevate basketball in the country.
“To our partners, thanks for the support. We will always deliver once the necessary backing continues,” Samukai stated. “The government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has always stood by us. Continue trusting us as we move ahead with the rebranding process to take our game to another level.”
He also commended the award winners, noting their dedication and hard work throughout the season.
“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,” he said.
The ceremony saw Rose Emmanuel of Commissioners basketball club walking away as the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer in the women’s division. Other awardees are Fanta Jalloh Best Defender, Korpo Sumo Highest Assists and Playoff MVP both from commissioners along Ginny Johnson the Highest Steals award winner.
In the LBA Second Division, Ayouba Swaray ended the ceremony as MVP and Highest Scorer alongside Emmanuel Johnson the Playoff MVP, Blessing Nath Most Defensive Player, Orlando Boye II, the Highest Blocks and Abel Glay Jr. the Highest Steals.
Award winners in the Third Division are: Osuman Kaiza MVP, Wallace Seongbae Playoff MVP, Jerror Tarrow Most Defensive Player and Samuel Wesley Most Improved Player.
Mighty Barrolle’s Joel Martor swept two awards, MVP Top and Highest Assist, while Omar Samba and Joseph Gubizie accumulated an award each in the First Division. The Association also awarded Zwannay Taylor as Referee of the Year and some veterans with lifetime achievement accolades.
Meanwhile, the association has awarded cash prizes to the winners and runners-up in each of its divisions. In the 3rd Division, the winning team received L$100,000, while the runner-up earned L$50,000.
In the 2nd Division, the top team was awarded L$125,000, with the runner-up taking home L$75,000. For the Women’s Division, the winner received L$200,000, and the runner-up was given L$100,000. In the 1st Division, the winner claimed a substantial L$350,000, while the runner-up received L$150,000.
These prizes reflect the LBA’s commitment to recognizing the achievements of teams across all levels of competition.