Basketball in Africa

Actions resume today in the Atlantic Conference Week 13 matches of the ongoing DStv Basketball League with Lagos Islanders seeking vengeance against city rivals and table-toppers, Union Bank.
Islanders most capped player and team's Assistant Coach, Seyi Ayodeji, told NAN that they were prepared to beat Union Bank in the encounter.
"We are ready to defeat Union Bank; we know their capabilities and we accept that they are a great team but nevertheless, we are prepared to beat them.
"We are determined to do this because it will determine our chances of emerging the Atlantic Conference champions. "We have had a great season, and we want to wrap it up with the conference title and get ourselves motivated for the national final eight playoffs coming after," Ayodeji said.
Islanders had led the conference log for nine weeks before losing two straight games in their Weeks 10 and 11 matches and, thereafter, submitted the conference leadership to Union Bank.
Islanders Captain, Seun Akinwunmi, said that they would surprise their opponents because they were still basking in the euphoria of the 70-49 thrashing of the Kwara Falcons in their last match.
"The match against Kwara Falcons helped us to get our momentum back; we beat them with 21 points, now the spirit in the Islanders camp is high.
"We are now in good state of mind having got over the previous losses we suffered in the hands of Ibadan-based Oluyole Warriors and the Dodan Warriors of Lagos. "However, it is tough for me that I cannot be with them, though I am recuperating from the injury I had earlier in the season, but I have confidence in my team."
Meanwhile, Union Bank's guard, Obum Onyia, believes that his team would not be intimidated by their traditional rivals, adding that they had more fire power to beat the Islanders.
"We are better than them; I agree they are a good team but we have more resources compared to our opponents. "We have won seven straight games, which did not come easy; we are getting better everyday, and we will keep that record till we win the conference title.
"With have just two games to go, we have victories on our minds, and nothing less," Onyia said. Another match in the conference that will live up to its billing is that between the Police Batons and Dodan Warriors both of Lagos. It will be an interesting encounter as both clubs will struggle to come out of the relegation zone.
the Batons are in the same position last season, where they had a remarkable victory over Dodan Warriors to escape relegation. Baton's Coach, Dominic Dike, said a victory over the Warriors was possible, adding that the team had prepared well for the challenge. "We lost to Warriors with just five points in the first leg; we had it in our hands but lost concentration at the end of the match.
"It was a regrettable loss; however, we hope not to make the same mistakes again when we face them on Friday," Dominic said. The DStv matches begin by 2 p.m. and are played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
NAN