The sport of basketball is something very close to my heart. For a boy in school who had very little interaction amongst his schoolmates, this was the game that turned it all around for me. Of course, back in those days, the NBA was the only source of basketball for me and Michael 'Air' Jordan was my ultimate hero growing up. As time went by, other stars turned up like Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neil, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry etc.
The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing organisation for basketball in India. Basketball has languished, like most other sports, behind the commercial dominance of cricket. But with the club league format of the IPL becoming the craze amongst other sports, basketball was not too far behind with its own league; the UBA (United Basketball Alliance).
A not well-known fact is that India was one of the founding members of FIBA Asia in 1936 and has one of Asia's longest basketball traditions. Throughout its history, Team India qualified for the FIBA Asia Championship 24 times and is placed in the top-5 in appearances in this tournament. Further, India's basketball team won three gold medals and one silver medal at the South Asian Games. Team India celebrated its most recent title at the 2014 Lusofonia Games after they finished the tournament with a 4-0 record and beat Angola in the final. Of course, its most famous moment came at the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup with the win against home favourites China men's basketball team by 7 points. This win has been popularly described as the "biggest basketball win in the nation's history".
There used to be many championships for senior, junior and youth levels for boys and girls held in the country. Invitational all-India tournaments like Master Prithvinath Memorial (New Delhi), Don Bosco Invitational Tournament (Mumbai), Ramu Memorial (Mumbai), and many other tournaments in the southern part of India are organized every year. Unlike other countries like America, Russia, China and Japan, basketball in India does not follow seasons. Indian basketball has championships throughout the year for different age groups. Championships for the youth are mainly organized between April to July when children are having summer break from school.
The NBA is partnering with BFI to encourage the growth of basketball in India. They have partnered to form NBA basketball schools and already have more than 12 centres around the country.
The UBA is the first men's professional basketball league and has 8 teams. It had its inaugural match of the first league on 17th July 2015. The UBA has had 4 seasons thus far and has grown exponentially with each season.
The eight teams are divided into 2 divisions with Mumbai Challengers, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Steelers and Haryana Gold comprising the North Division and Chennai Slam, Pune Peshwas, Bengaluru Beast and Hyderabad Sky making up the South Division.
Season 1
UBA Season 1 was held from 17th to 30th July 2015 at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad. Chennai Slam won the UBA Championship with Ravi Bhardwaj (Punjab Steelers) taking the MVP honours, averaging 20.3 points per game.
Season 2
The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the governing organisation for basketball in India. Basketball has languished, like most other sports, behind the commercial dominance of cricket. But with the club league format of the IPL becoming the craze amongst other sports, basketball was not too far behind with its own league; the UBA (United Basketball Alliance).
A not well-known fact is that India was one of the founding members of FIBA Asia in 1936 and has one of Asia's longest basketball traditions. Throughout its history, Team India qualified for the FIBA Asia Championship 24 times and is placed in the top-5 in appearances in this tournament. Further, India's basketball team won three gold medals and one silver medal at the South Asian Games. Team India celebrated its most recent title at the 2014 Lusofonia Games after they finished the tournament with a 4-0 record and beat Angola in the final. Of course, its most famous moment came at the 2014 FIBA Asia Cup with the win against home favourites China men's basketball team by 7 points. This win has been popularly described as the "biggest basketball win in the nation's history".
There used to be many championships for senior, junior and youth levels for boys and girls held in the country. Invitational all-India tournaments like Master Prithvinath Memorial (New Delhi), Don Bosco Invitational Tournament (Mumbai), Ramu Memorial (Mumbai), and many other tournaments in the southern part of India are organized every year. Unlike other countries like America, Russia, China and Japan, basketball in India does not follow seasons. Indian basketball has championships throughout the year for different age groups. Championships for the youth are mainly organized between April to July when children are having summer break from school.
The NBA is partnering with BFI to encourage the growth of basketball in India. They have partnered to form NBA basketball schools and already have more than 12 centres around the country.
The UBA is the first men's professional basketball league and has 8 teams. It had its inaugural match of the first league on 17th July 2015. The UBA has had 4 seasons thus far and has grown exponentially with each season.
The eight teams are divided into 2 divisions with Mumbai Challengers, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Steelers and Haryana Gold comprising the North Division and Chennai Slam, Pune Peshwas, Bengaluru Beast and Hyderabad Sky making up the South Division.
Season 1
UBA Season 1 was held from 17th to 30th July 2015 at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad. Chennai Slam won the UBA Championship with Ravi Bhardwaj (Punjab Steelers) taking the MVP honours, averaging 20.3 points per game.
Season 2
UBA Season 2 was held in two legs. The first leg was from 18th to 28th February 2016 in Balewadi Stadium, Pune. The second leg was held from 23rd March to 3rd April 2016 at Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad. Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Slam in a 3-game finals series to claim the title. Vinay Kaushik (Delhi Capitals) was awarded MVP honours, averaging 18.7 points per game.
Season 3
UBA Season 3 was held at Balewadi Stadium, Pune from 15th to 31st July 2016. The Season 3 Championship was won by Chennai Slam after they defeated Punjab Steelers in three games. Narendra Grewal (Pune Peshwas) won MVP honours, averaging 31.8 points per game.
Season 4
UBA Season 4 was held in two legs, with the first leg being held at Sathyabama University, Chennai and the second leg (Championship Series) at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium, Goa. The Season 4 Championship was won by Mumbai CHallengers as they bested Bengaluru Beast in two games in the best of three finals series. Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (Bengaluru Beast) won Indian MVP honours, averaging 28.3 points per game and Dermaine Crockrell (Punjab Steelers) won the International MVP honours, with a league-leading 41.2 points per game.
The UBA has conducted two UBA U.S. Pro Training Camps thus far. The camps were held in Phoenix, Arizona. The camps are designed to expose the best players in India to world Class training, facilities and competition. They undergo intense training sessions including four hours of basketball training and two hours of strength and conditioning training every day. The goal of the camp was to inculcate habits in the players which they can carry back with them and imbibe in their daily routines to elevate their game higher.
With the developments in the league progressing at a rapid pace, one can only look forward to the benefits percolating through the players into improved performances in the national team.
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