Basketball League tips off

AMMAN — The season’s prime basketball competition — the Premier Basketball League — tips off Saturday with eight teams competing. Reigning champs Orthodoxi won their record 23rd title last season. They started off the season by winning the Jordan Cup this week, beating closest rivals Riyadi in the final minutes of the match.

Other competing teams include Riyadi, Nashama, Awdeh, Ghazzet Hashem, Jalil, Hurrieh and Kufr Youba. Last season, Applied Science University (ASU) beat Ittihad Schools for the Jordan Cup title after they ousted Riyadi and Orthodoxi in the semis. ASU and Ittihad have pulled out of competitions over differences with the Jordan Basketball Federation and players have been dispersed over the rest of clubs.