Basketball in Africa

John Okojie, the Captain of Union Bank Basketball Club, has said that the ongoing Lagos City Basketball League is what the team need to step up its performance.
Okojie said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos. The captain spoke against the backdrop of the team's 69-65 defeat his team inflicted on the Police Baton basketball club in a keenly contested match.
"It has being a fantastic outing for me and my teammates; we entered this competition without much preparation.
"Beating Police Baton, another premier team, proved that we can hold our own against other top teams.
Okojie added that the group also had clubs like Flames and Warriors Academy.
"We expect the games to be tougher games in the next round of matches, but with our three out of three wins we have that confidence to succeed," Okojie said.
In the other group in the competition, Chariots basketball club also made it three out of three defeating Lagos Islanders in a game filled with thrills and skills. NAN reports Chariots basketball club defeated Lagos Islanders 79-69. Akeem Adesanya, a Chariots centre forward and captain, attributed the team's success to hard work and new quality signings in the team.
"Today's win is as a result of good team display and our new players that have come on board.
"The likes of Prince Orizu gave us the needed inspiration to overcome Lagos Islanders, a well structured team," Adesanya said.
NAN reports that the league is currently on break and will resume on Oct. 16 with Team Lagos locking horns with the Nigeria Air Force Rockets, while Warrior Academy will engage Flames basketball club.