Basketball in Africa

Niger Potters basketball club of Minna showed the stuff it is made up when it tear apart Kano Pillars basketball club to record its second straight win by 83-61 points in the First Deepwater Discovery Battle for Supremacy Basketball Tournament holding at UNILAG Sports Centre, Akoka.

Potters who on Thursday defeated Ebun Comets basketball club by 66-56 points will meet Union bank basketball club today (Saturday) in the decider for the winner-take-all prize money of .N5M.

Potters inspirational guard Abubakar Usman had a good game in the second day running scoring 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steal and 2 assist to lift the 2007 FIBA Africa Champions Club Cup fifth placed team over Savannah conference rival Pillars.
Usman was joined on the scorer chat by Abubakar Yusuf who led the floor with 23 points, Sati Paul added 13 points and 4 rebounds while Shehu Mohammed grabbed 8 rebounds and one block-shot.
Pillars was once again led in scoring by its playmaker, Ibrahim Adamu Yusuf with 20 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steal, compatriot Haruna Maitama contributed 16 points just as Ahmed Danmama grabbed 7 rebounds for the Savannah conference top side who takes on Ebun Comets basketball club today in the race for the third place.
Potters was greater at the board with 42 rebounds as against Pillars 26.

...Delta Force shove aside Sunshine 58-45 points, battle Dolphins

Delta Force basketball club of Asaba put behind them the narrow lose to First Bank basketball club on Day-1 of the battle for Supremacy tournament to shove aside challenges from Sunshine Angels basketball club of Akure by 58-45 points.
The Lateef Erinfolami girls won in three of the four quarters (14-11, 10-14, 19-08 and 15-12) to set up battle for the second spot against Dolphins basketball club having conceded the top spot to First Bank basketball club.
Magdalene Mukato once again led her teammate in scoring with 12 points, 4 assists, 3 steal and 2 rebounds, Ogor Bolum added 10 points and 6 rebounds while Memuna Fuludu grabbed 7 rebounds.
Sunshine Becky Iritie had 19 points and 4 rebounds to her credit while Korede Sosanya grabbed 7 rebounds.
Delta Force proved a better side on the board picking up 46 rebounds at both offense and defense while Sunshine had 32 rebounds.

...Union Bank survive Comets onslaught, confront Potters for title

The local derby between Union Bank basketball club and Ebun Comets basketball club Friday lived up to its rating as both sides gave the fans a good match to cheer.
While Union Bank basketball club bank on its array of stars to do the job Comets on the other hand relied on the plays from its bench to rattle the stallion boys.
The four quarters was won evenly with Union Bank coming from a 13-10 points down in the first quarter to pick the second quarter by 13-08 thus gaining a two points advantage going into the break.
Comets again charged back in the third quarter to even scores at the close of the quarter with a 17-15 points win to go into the last quarter on a level ground.
The last quarter proved rather more exciting as both side take on each other like a wounded lions recording points for points fouls for fouls, with time tickling away. And just as an over-time seems to be in the offing Comets guard, Orseer Ikyaato committed a foul with the buzzer shot clock about to sound off the game with Daniel Daudu perfectly scored the resultant free throws to give victory to his side by 56-54 points.
Union Bank off-guard Azuoma Dike led floor with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steal, kingsley Aguara added 12 points and 3 rebounds while forward Malik Tella grabbed 8 rebounds.
Comets captain and point guard, Orseer Ikyaato led his teammates with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists, Deji Egbeyemi contributed 11 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds just as Obum Ekpete grabbed 7 rebounds.

. ..First Bank confirm rating beat Dolphins 67-54

First Bank basketball club of Lagos Friday confirm her rating as the number one women club in Nigeria with an emphatic 67-54 points victory over Dolphins basketball club also of Lagos.
The Elephant Girls had succumbed to a 13-12 points lose in the first quarter to the Wale Aboderin Dolphins but came back into the game strongly in the second quarter throughout the duration of the game to out-scored its opponent (23-15, 17-13 and 15-13) to seal victory leaving Dolphins and Delta Force to fight for the second spot today (Saturday).
The Adewumi Aderemi tutored Elephant Girls will battle bottom placed Sunshine Angels in a formality match today (Saturday).


Day-2 Results:
Niger Potters 83-61 Kano Pillars
Sunshine Angels 45-58 Delta Force
Union Bank 56-54 Ebun Comets
First Bank 67-54 Dolphins

Day-3 Games:
First Bank Vs Sunshine Angels
Ebun Comets Vs Kano Pillars
Dolphins Vs Delta Force
Union Bank Vs Niger Potters

by Olusegun Ikuesan