'NBL needs time to make its mark'

Western Bureau

The National Basketball League (NBL) has been going well in the west but vice-president of leagues and operation for the Western Basketball Association (WBA), Deon Williams, says he is not sure it will be the main driving force behind the sport in the region.

The western final of the NBL is set for tomorrow, between Granville Jaguars and MoBay Cricket Club Knights at the Montego Bay Cricket Club Courts.

"I don't know if I can say the NBL will drive it (basketball in the west) because they have been out for five years," said Williams. He believes the now shortened season of the NBL will serve to just resurrect the sport and league.

ELITELEAGUE

"From this side, we still had our basketball with two leagues running for men. We have a Division One and the Elite League ... the NBL wasn't consistent and with such a long break, it's going to take some time for people to show a great deal of interest," he added.

Williams believes that with time the NBL can serve as the platform for the players to be exposed on a national level. However, according to him, at the moment, not even the players have been showing great interest (in the NBL), they are concentrating more on their regional leagues as these competitions have always been around.

"Until the NBL is more organised and streamlined, I don't necessarily see it as that platform (to drive the sport)," said Williams, who is also ISSA's Basketball coordinator for the Western Region.

With the west recently capturing the ISSA all-island basketball title through Herbert Morrison Technical High, Williams said they have been making progress in the development of the sport in the west despite limited resources.

"We don't have an indoor court and basketball should really be played indoors. So that in itself is a hindrance in terms of developing more talent," Williams concluded.