04 October 2006
NIGERIA : Sunshine Angels Drill Nigeria Customs
Pius Ayinor
Lagos
Kike of Sunshine Angels was a constant road block for the Nigeria Customs team as she posted five block shots in the last quarter of their match yesterday as the Akure-based Angels defeated Customs 44-38 in one of the games of the Zenith Female Basketball League.
For those who are familiar with the Nigerian basketball league, the result was a clear upset as nobody gave the Sunshine team any chance against the one-time female league champions before they stepped out at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
The game had actually followed the bookmakers previews in the first quarter as the Customs won by 6-4 in one of the most miserly scoring games ever played at the final play of every league in the country. But by the time they got to the end of the first half, the unadvertised Angels had taken a two-point lead.
The game was actually won in the last quarter when the fast break approach of the fitter Sunshine ladies and which was sustained by high turnovers of the Customs team won them the match.
"We lost because we were not as fit as they were. Our opponents are so much younger and that was helpful for them as they were able to run effectively. Fitness made the difference," Scott Nnaji the Customs coach told THISDAYSports.
The feat of the Sunshine ladies won them applause and many fans' hearts but the result means the Customs have clearly slipped in the Final-8 mini league that plays in a round robin format.Before that upset, another brand of Angels, this time the Blue Angels of Lagos played according to pre-match prediction by beating the Nigeria Immigration team 62-47.
That was the first match of the day in the play off that features four games daily. The First Bank feeder team won all four quarters to win the game. It was the first win for the Blue Angels who lost their opening Sunday night to Dolphins 71-62 in clearly the star game of the first day.
The first match of today is between Dolphins and Sunshine girls still basking in the euphoria of their victory over Customs. A win for Sunshine would also be classified as upset. This game match between AHIP of Kano and the Blue Angels would follow. The last two matches are the games between Delta Force and Immigration and then between rivals Customs and First Bank. Despite the slip of Customs yesterday, the game may still play out as the star match of the day as pride will count more than points.
Lagos
Kike of Sunshine Angels was a constant road block for the Nigeria Customs team as she posted five block shots in the last quarter of their match yesterday as the Akure-based Angels defeated Customs 44-38 in one of the games of the Zenith Female Basketball League.
For those who are familiar with the Nigerian basketball league, the result was a clear upset as nobody gave the Sunshine team any chance against the one-time female league champions before they stepped out at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
The game had actually followed the bookmakers previews in the first quarter as the Customs won by 6-4 in one of the most miserly scoring games ever played at the final play of every league in the country. But by the time they got to the end of the first half, the unadvertised Angels had taken a two-point lead.
The game was actually won in the last quarter when the fast break approach of the fitter Sunshine ladies and which was sustained by high turnovers of the Customs team won them the match.
"We lost because we were not as fit as they were. Our opponents are so much younger and that was helpful for them as they were able to run effectively. Fitness made the difference," Scott Nnaji the Customs coach told THISDAYSports.
The feat of the Sunshine ladies won them applause and many fans' hearts but the result means the Customs have clearly slipped in the Final-8 mini league that plays in a round robin format.Before that upset, another brand of Angels, this time the Blue Angels of Lagos played according to pre-match prediction by beating the Nigeria Immigration team 62-47.
That was the first match of the day in the play off that features four games daily. The First Bank feeder team won all four quarters to win the game. It was the first win for the Blue Angels who lost their opening Sunday night to Dolphins 71-62 in clearly the star game of the first day.
The first match of today is between Dolphins and Sunshine girls still basking in the euphoria of their victory over Customs. A win for Sunshine would also be classified as upset. This game match between AHIP of Kano and the Blue Angels would follow. The last two matches are the games between Delta Force and Immigration and then between rivals Customs and First Bank. Despite the slip of Customs yesterday, the game may still play out as the star match of the day as pride will count more than points.
# posted by afrbk : 13:53
