Basketball in Africa

The direction the Savannah Conference play offs for the Vmobile Premier Basketball League may alredy be taking shape right from the first jump ball as it was a mixed fortune for the Kano-based teams on the first day.

After spectacular matches, Kano Pillars beat the triumphant drum while another home team the AHIP Giants tasted the bitter pill of defeat. Pillars beat Yelwa Hawks 52-33 while Plateau Peaks belittled the Giants at the Sports Hall of the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The boys from Pillars playing the second match of the day went into early lead after the jump ball, making the Hawks to restort to defensive play in the first quarter of the game. The defensive play could hardly stop the rampaging Pillars as they raced up to 32 -11 lead before the end of the first quarter.

In the first game, Plateau Peaks defeated AHIP Giants after trailing for most part of the match. The journey weary Peaks started the match badly, failing to make any good board play or quality shots even from within the paint.

The Plateau team finished the first quarter 28-31 with the Giants living up to their name. However, the tide of the game soon changed after a series of tactical changes by the coach of the Peaks.