NGR - Pillars shock Union Bank, as Islanders beat Comets

LAGOS (Premier League) - Kano Pillars basketball club last weekend rounded off its road trip games to the Atlantic Conference of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF organized premier league with a ‘sweet’ victory over Star-Studded Union Bank basketball club of Lagos.

Pillars victory over Union Bank was described by its coach, Sani Ahmed as a ‘Sweet Victory’ and commended his players for a job well-done.

The Kano-based Savannah conference strong side won the hard earned battle by 71-67 points to take its road wining to two after defeating Islanders in its first game in Lagos by 72-67 points while its await the decision of the League and Technical Committee of the Nigeria federation on the May 12 abandoned match in Asaba against Delta Force basketball club.

“Who will not feet great beating a side as strong and studded as Union Bank, look I feel on top of the world, its as if we won all our road games and I must commend my players for a job well-done and we are going back to Kano fulfilled, said the Nigeria team head coach to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

And on Sunday in a Lagos City League pairing new look Islanders basketball club for the second time this season defeated Ebun Comets basketball by 72-68 points.

The victory for the Islanders came after losing two straight games to Kano Pillars (72-67) and Delta Force (71-79) basketball clubs, so Coach Ogoh Odaudu and his players knows what it feel to taste defeat a third time.

The road to victory for the Islanders was anchored by Rasheed Bello a former Ebun Comets player who was tireless throughout the pulsating encounter which brought the best from both sides.

Bello an off-guard provided the tonic the Islanders needed to curtail the foray of Dennis Ebikoro charged Comets and at the end of the match says he is happy his side won.

…. Union Bank battles Dodan Warriors in City league

Jolted by the spate of defeat in recent time the management of Union Bank basketball club Saturday read out a riot act to its players to either buckled up or face the music.

The players have been told to win Tuesday Lagos City League game against city rival, Dodan Warriors basketball club which makes the match an interesting one to watch.

The last time both sides met in the premier league, Union Bank basketball club ran away with a 61-52 points victory, but with recent happening as both teams are faced with series of loses in both leagues.

The atmosphere is different this time and Coaches Adeka Dauda and Peter Ahmedu of the Dodan Warriors will not want to lose a second time to the Stallion Boy as the bankers are as known.

Union Bank parades a crop of tested players most of whom have played in the green-white-green jersey of the Nigeria national team either at junior or senior levels but the Dodan Warriors boast of some never-say-die players who are capable of giving the Gboyega Vidal coached Union Bank a run for their money.

By Olusegun Ikuesan
FIBA