Basketball in Africa

By Pius Ayinor
Lagos

The Vmobile Basketball league gets quite hot this afternoon in Lagos and Bauchi as teams line up for more points ahead of the play off-season. Yelwa Hawks are at home to AHIP Giants in Bauchi but the star attraction is actually at the National Stadium in Lagos where the Lagos Islanders will play as hosts to Dodan Warriors.

This game is more of pride than securing the needed points to guarantee a play off spot. The Islanders who are former league champions had beaten the Warriors on the road to such trophies and one particular day, by 30 points, until this season when the Warriors got more than battle ready and beat Islanders like kids. The fixture offers Islanders the chance the opportunity to revenge and reclaim their old glory. And for the Warriors it is even another chance to stamp their authority and make it very clear that what the first time was no fluke.

Given the statistics both teams have put on this system this season, the game will most likely go the way of the Warriors. A win for Islanders today will come as a surprise and that may revolve around Dodan Warriors becoming over confident.In Bauchi the coaster is clear for Yelwa Hawks to perch and drill the AHIP Giants properly. By all measurements, Yelwa boys are better placed to win this game boldly as they line against a Yelwa team that are yet to win a game.

The AHIP boys were at home to Bauchi Nets three days ago in Kano and fell by 56-54. It was about the closest they got to win a game this season and with the loss they hold an unenviable record as the only team yet to win a match in both Conferences.

Tomorrow in Lagos the battle will also be on the high scale as the Customs, another struggling side, seek to regain their battered image against Union Bank. But unlike AHIP, the Customs still have some magic that can turn the table in their favour against any team in the league. Sunday is match-free in Lagos as Comets travel to Asaba,