Basketball in Africa

Defending champion of the Zenith Bank female premier league, First Bank Elephant Girls escaped a shocking defeat Sunday when it won a hard fought game against border girls Customs basketball club by 61-58 points in the final leg of the round-trip league played at the sports hall of the Lagos National Stadium, Surulere.

The Scott Nnaji coached Customs had coast home to a 20-06 points win in the first quarter only to surrender in the second and third quarters (22-08 and 22-12) but came back strongly into the game in the fourth and decisive quarter which it won 18-11 points but missed winning the match by two quick turnovers in the dying second of the thrilling match watched by capacity crowd.

The first pairing of the day saw Dolphins basketball club of Lagos making mince meat of hapless AHIP Queens basketball club of Kano by 88-42 points of 21-05; 24-13; 19-12 and 24-12 to set up clash against Customs Monday.

Dodan Amazons got the better of Nigeria Immigration basketball club of kano by 71-61 points to confirm the relegation of the Kano based Passport ladies, the Amazons will do battle against favourite First Bank in the third match Monday while Immigration will take to the court against Sunshine Angels of Akure conqueror, Delta Force of Asaba.

The Sunshine girls of coach Andrew Ishokpehi who lost by two points (51-49) to Delta Sunday will battle AHIP of Kano in the second game Monday to keep hope of making appreciable impact alive.

By Seinde Ikuesan