03 June 2013
Nigeria: Basketball League - Customs' Coach Expresses Confidence in Team's Rise
Coach Scot Nnaji of Customs of Lagos on Saturday said that the team was determined to earn crucial points to rise up the ladder in the ongoing Atlantic Conference DStv/Premier Basketball League.
Nnaji disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria after his team defeated Police Batons of Lagos 68-63 to claim their fourth win in 11 matches played so far.
The victory made Customs, which formerly was at the bottom of the league, to climb over Police which had won three games also from 11 matches.
"We will be looking at increasing the tempo and playing our best to gather necessary points and keep up with others. We have to play our best and keep up with others ahead of us, the league in its 11 games is very crucial and it is time for serious work.
"Union Bank of Lagos and Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan are obviously the Conference leaders with eight and seven wins from 10 games respectively. However, we cannot afford to lose sight of them, giving there are just three games left to the half of the expected 28 games in the season," he said.
Reacting, Coach Mark Balogun of Police said that the team had played poorly and it was high time every player got their acts right.
"We did not play well at all; we struggled throughout and could not capitalise on our lead in the second quarter of the match.
"However we will change all these in our second leg encounter," Balogun assured.
In another match, Dodan Warriors of Lagos walloped Lagos Islanders 68-60 to hit seven wins out of 11 games, while Islanders loss keeps them to five wins from 11 games.
Coach Peter Ahmedu of Dodan said that his youthful side proved its worth over a rather ageing but well experienced Islanders.
"We have well organised boys that listen to coaches instructions. We tell them what to do on the courts and they listen, they are just fantastic young athletes," Ahmedu said.
Coach Lateef Erinfolami of Islanders, said that his team lost because they met a better side, adding, however, that the hope to change its tactics in their second leg encounter.
In the current league format, teams were mandated for a reverse match within 24 hours.
Nnaji disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria after his team defeated Police Batons of Lagos 68-63 to claim their fourth win in 11 matches played so far.
The victory made Customs, which formerly was at the bottom of the league, to climb over Police which had won three games also from 11 matches.
"We will be looking at increasing the tempo and playing our best to gather necessary points and keep up with others. We have to play our best and keep up with others ahead of us, the league in its 11 games is very crucial and it is time for serious work.
"Union Bank of Lagos and Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan are obviously the Conference leaders with eight and seven wins from 10 games respectively. However, we cannot afford to lose sight of them, giving there are just three games left to the half of the expected 28 games in the season," he said.
Reacting, Coach Mark Balogun of Police said that the team had played poorly and it was high time every player got their acts right.
"We did not play well at all; we struggled throughout and could not capitalise on our lead in the second quarter of the match.
"However we will change all these in our second leg encounter," Balogun assured.
In another match, Dodan Warriors of Lagos walloped Lagos Islanders 68-60 to hit seven wins out of 11 games, while Islanders loss keeps them to five wins from 11 games.
Coach Peter Ahmedu of Dodan said that his youthful side proved its worth over a rather ageing but well experienced Islanders.
"We have well organised boys that listen to coaches instructions. We tell them what to do on the courts and they listen, they are just fantastic young athletes," Ahmedu said.
Coach Lateef Erinfolami of Islanders, said that his team lost because they met a better side, adding, however, that the hope to change its tactics in their second leg encounter.
In the current league format, teams were mandated for a reverse match within 24 hours.
# posted by afrbk : 15:17
