Basketball in Africa

The trio of Ebun Comets, Kennys' Bullets and Union Bank basketball clubs are the only clubs who yet to taste defeat after playing four games each in the 3rd Lagos City League with Comets leading the pack with superior points difference.

All four teams have continue to show great potentials that they are prepared for the league which is providing them opportunities to test some of their new signings and young players and a place in the final-4.

Comets have recorded win over Warriors Kadets (52-24); Raptors (72-39); Sea Rovers (68-42) and Chariots (59-54) which is the only match that one would say really test the might of the Ayo Bakare tutored side.

Bullets coached by former Nigeria international and senior national team D'Tigers captain, Lateef Folami had proved that it winning the league last season is not a fluke by shunning out victory upon victory week-in week-out with wins over Sea Rovers (56-29); Warriors Academy (73-63); Whales (63-50) and Warriors Kadets (57-18) to place second behind Comets on the table.

Union Bank on the other hand has had its hand full as it has played against more tougher opposition with its biggest win coming last Sunday when it defeated Dodan Warriors in a thrilling match watched by capacity crowd with 91-87 points, the Stallion boys as the Bode Thomas Surulere-based team is also known defeated big teams like the Islanders (63-54); Police Bombers (57-43) and Warriors Academy (71-49) to place third.

Bullets test might against Islanders, Comets

This weekend matches will prove whether new emtrant into the Nigeria basketball scene, Kenny' Bullets has what it takes to compete among the big boys or not when it engage two former Nigerian league champions, Islanders and Ebun Comets basketball clubs on Friday and Sunday at the Sports Hall of the Lagos National Stradium.

Bullets coached by former Nigeria national team captain and Comets play maker, Lateef Folami had before this weekend pairing seated in the second spot behind Comets with eight points from four matches.

The team owned by telecommunications guru, Oladamoye Oyesiku boast of some tested and quality players with a sprinkle of rookies who are very daring when situation afford them.

Players such as Nigeria captain to the 2006 Melbourne, Australia Commonwealth Games, Abdulrahman Mohammed, experience two-guard Baba Kadri Jibril and potent point guard Michael Ohiero at the back court while up front the team has Dare Borokini otherwise known as 'Gedu', Andrew Awarrin and Godspower Igben.

Bombers set to bomb Islanders, Comets out of final-4

Comeback Police Bombers basketball club will on Sunday stake its luck against Toyin Sonoiki Islanders in continuation of the City league to announce its comeback into the game.

Bombers who pulled out of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF organised premier league in 2003 has not been able to find its footing ever since but the determination of it coach, Mark Balogun an Assistant Suprintendent of Police has seen the team making itself available to compete for honours whether in the small league or the big league.

Basking with a 2-2 record so far the Bombers will count on the experience of Rasaki Alowonle, Malik Tella and Razaq Odebode the one they call 'The Bull' while Segun Dawodu and Aranike Ebikoro will provide assistance from the back-court.

Before the tough nutch against Islanders on Sunday the Bombers will bank on mother luck to out play Ebun Comets on Friday in one of the top of the billing match of the day.

The match against the two teams that ruled the Nigeria basketball scene for over fifteen years is seen by many as the real test the Balogun boys need to announce their to the whole world whether they are a team to reckon with or not.

Other Pairings:
Wednesday - March 28
Warriors Academy Vs Sea Rovers
Whales Vs Warriors Kadets
Chariots Vs Dodan Warriors

Friday - March 30
Sea Rovers Vs Chariots
Warriors Kadets Vs Raptors
Dodan Warriors Vs Warriors Academy
Union Bank Vs Whales
Islanders Vs Bullets
Comets Vs Bombers

Sunday - April 1
Bombers Vs Islanders
Raptors Vs Union Bank
Bullets Vs Comets

Results:
Islanders 65-42 Warriors Academy
Sear Rovers 67-65 Warriors Kadets (OT)
Kennys' Bullets 63-50 Whales
Ebun Comets 68-42 Sea Rovers
Dodan Warriors 64-31 Raptors
Union Bank 71-49 Warriors Academy
Islanders 49-33 Whales
Kennys' Bullets 57-18 Warriors Kadets
Police Bombers 59-43 Chariots
Ebun Comets 59-54 Chariots
Police Bombers 46-30 Raptors
Union Bank 91-87 Dodan Warriors

By Olusegun IKUESAN