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*** NIGERIAN MEN BASKETBALL MAIN PAGE ***
 | Rumbles in the Savannah..as Peaks, Potters seek consolidation | |
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| |  | Three premier league matches will be decided this weekend in the Savannah conference of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF organized premier league.
In Jos, home state of NBBF President, Elder Jacob Gyang Buba, home team and toast of the city fans Plateau Peaks basketball club will throw everything in its arsenal unto the court when it hosted AHIP Giant basketball club from Kano in order to consolidate its position on the conference table.
The match promises to be a thriller as the young AHIP team will put up a fight against the more expose and experience Peaks to stand-still so as to brighten its play-off slot.
The conference whipping team, Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi will play the game of its live when it hosted old war horse Kano Pillars basketball club.
Yelwa owned by a former member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Tanko Dutse Yusuf who is now a Commissioner in the state must be at their very best to upstage the Pillars.
The match will definitely bring out the best from both sides as Yelwa Hawks recently made a last minute recruitment in order to look good for a championship team while Pillars with the likes of Ibrahim Yusuf being at their element among other key Pillars players.
Conference leaders, Niger Potters basketball club of Minna will do everything possible to remain on top of the conference table when it hosted visiting Tapgun Rockets basketball club of Jos.
Potters will bank on the experience of their 2007 fifth place finishing at the FIBA Africa Champions Club Competition in Angola to pick the two maximum points against the Jos-based Rockets who has been finding things tough since the conference leg of the league dunks-off on April 5.
All three matches hold simultaneously in the three venues across the Savannah conference.Abubakar Usman (192-G-86) |
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| Niger Coach, Kuta Thumb-up Nigeria Federation | |
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| | | Head Coach of Niger State basketball team to the national U-18 men and women championship currently on in Kano, Adamu Kuta has given a pass mark to the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF for a job well-done.
Speaking in an exclusive telephone chat with www.fiba-africa.com, the coach who also double as the head coach of the North Central Nigeria top team, Niger Potters Basketball Club says though the U18 national championship which attracted 16 states of the federation came a little late but it is a good omen that the Nigeria federation is now serious with basketball development and not only promotion which the top league The Premier League represent.
Coach Kuta whose men team lost its opening group game to Kaduna State by 70-49 points rose from that defeat to beat Oyo State with a narrow 73-71 points while the girls defeated Benue state by 54-13 points in her third group game after going down to Ondo State by 32-26 and Kano 57-12 points respectively in her first and second group matches.
The Gwari-born basketball tactician says the championship will afford coaches who are interested in the development of basketball in the country to discover and nurture the young talent on display.
He posited that the Nigeria federation should endeavour to make the championship an annual event so as to continue with the project of talent hunt.
'I am indeed happy that at last the Nigeria Basketball Federation has taken the bull by the horn by re-introducing the national U18 Men and Women Championship which has been in limbo for years.
'I am particularly happy for the young kids who have been yarning for an avenue such as this to show case their raw talents and at least catch the fancy of a few premier league coaches around.
'It is not enough to reintroduce this championship, but its continuation is important so Im appealing to the NBBF to make it an annual event.
Kano girls have remained consistent after posting a second victory beating Niger and Ondo States by 57-12 and 51-33 points respectively.
Kaduna men team have also show some consistency by keeping a clean slate in the two matches it has played so far, the Kaduna boys defeated Niger State 70-49 points in its first group game and posted another heart warming victory over Edo State with an 86-36 points walloping.
Day-1 Results Men:
Kano 69-50 Enugu
Kaduna 70-49 Niger
Gombe 59-37 Imo
Anambra 46-45 Imo
Day-1 Women:
Edo 55-31 Kaduna
Imo 44-07 Gombe
Ondo 32-26 Niger
Kano 44-42 Benue
Kano 57-12 Niger
Day-2 Men:
Enugu 44-39 Benue
Gombe 71-37 Katsina
Kaduna 86-36 Edo
Zamfara 47-36 Sokoto
Niger 73-71 Oyo
Day-2 Women:
Edo 3-27 Rivers
Imo 57-27 Kaduna
Niger 54-13 Benue
Rivers 28-20 Gombe
Imo 36-31 Edo
Kano 51-33 Ondo |
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| Islanders shock Union Bank 49-40 | |
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| | | It was all cheers Sunday night at the sports hall of the Lagos National Stadium when new look Islanders basketball club coached by youthful coach and former Nigeria international point guard, Ogoh Odaudu rolled over star-studded Union Bank basketball 49-40 points in an Atlantic conference premier league game.
Sunday victory by the Islanders over the Stallion boys as the bankers is often referred to be a pay back of last Wednesday defeat suffered by the Chiwendu Nwaigbo propelled Islanders.
The Gboyega Tilo Vidal coached Union Bank had boasted of beating the Islanders side with as much as 20 points and looked as if to fulfill that promise when they won the first quarter 10-06 in the stiffly challenge contest.
The second quarter saw the Islanders players coming out of their shell and determination as they stroll to a 18-12 points win to take a two points lead (24-22) going into the half-time break.
The Islanders players determined to remain unbeaten in the Atlantic conference of the premier league extend the gap between them and the Union Bank team by 6 points as they won the third quarter 12-08 points and rounded up the game in the last quarter with a 13-10 points win.
Coach Odaudu told www.fiba-afrique.org website immediately after the energy sapping encounter that the best is yet to be seen of his team with mixture of few experience players and array of young but talented players.
I am happy the result went our ways, I must commend the players for a job well-done and it is a clear testimony that we are learning the rope fast in the big league.
It shows that our third place finishing last when we play as Kennys Bullets in the Lagos City league was not a fluke after all. |
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| Ebikoro led Comets past Dodan Warriors | |
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| | | Ebun Comets and Nigeria international forward, Dennis Ebikoro was in superb form Saturday as he and his colleague ran ring round Dodan Warriors in an Atlantic conference premier league game.
Temowe as the 6 feet, 6 inch tall forward is called played out his heart, grabbing valuable rebound both offense and defense to lead Comets challenge for the maximum points ending the first quarter 22-04, the second quarter of the week-three Atlantic conference game saw the coach Ayo Bakare tutored Comets side coasting to victory with a 16-11 points for a 37-15 points at half-time.
Dodan Warriors players put up some brave challenge in the third quarter but the compact defensive style of play by the Comets saw both sides recording a low score of 10-07 in favour of the Warriors who put every foots and hands on the night that its players had boasted of an easy win over the Orseer Ikyaator captained Comets side.
Ebikoro and his co-travelers were at their best in the fourth and final quarter defending and scoring at will thus taking the game beyond the reach of the Dodan Warriors as they coast home to a 22-16 points victory for a cumulative score-line of 67-41 points victory which was one of the worst defeat the Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd) team has suffered in recent time. |
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| Young Odia propel Rookies to victory | |
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| | | Playing just like his elder brother (Churchill Odia) 14-year-old Peter Odia was a delight to watch in the colour of Rookies Basketball Academy in Sunday game against Warriors Academy in a Lagos City league pairing.
Young Odia who stands at 6 feet, one inch tall and still growing anchor the guard slot for the Police College-based Rookies side to ran away with a 53-49 points victory over their bigger Warriors Academy opponent.
And on Saturday Flames basketball club shocked Ikorodu Kings basketball club by 44-41 points in a game the Ikorodu Kings were clearly the favorite.
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| Whales surprised Police in City league | |
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| | | Whales basketball club of Friday pulled a surprised 68-54 points victory over Police Bombers basketball club in the 4th Lagos City league played at the sports hall of the Lagos National Stadium.
The Charles Osho tutored Whales who last Wednesday fell to Dodan Warriors basketball club by 59-38 points rose to the challenge poised by the Mark Balogun tutored Bombers from the first quarter of the explosive match.
In another match decided Friday Chariot basketball club recorded its first win with a 55-38 points pummeling of Raptors basketball club.
Action continue today with Ikorodu Kings parading oldies such as 7 feet Alex Soyebo popularly known as legend taking on Flames basketball while Rookies Academy takes on Warriors Academy on Sunday in a battle of the academies.
The 4th edition of the city league dunks-off Wednesday with eight matches already decided.
All the results:
Police Bombers 39-35 Chariot
Dodan Warriors 59-38 Whales
Ebun Comets 76-34 Raptors
Union Bank 55-40 Islanders
Ikorodu Kings 51-39 Rookies Academy
Warriors Academy 50-41 Flames
Whales 68-54 Police Bombers
Chariot 55-38 Raptors. |
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| Customs end road game, battle Pillars and AHIP | |
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| | | Nigeria Customs Service basketball club will this weekend round-off it road games to the Savannah conference of the Nigeria premier league with two games in Kano.
The border boys as the Gyang Buba men are known will today (Saturday) take on old war horse, Kano Pillars basketball club at the sports hall of the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kafa Mata, Kano.
The team with team assistant coach, Abba Jagu Mohammed standing in for head coach Scott Nnaji who is undergoing a course in Lagos will do battle against Adolescent Health & Information Programme (AHIP) basketball team on Sunday at the same venue.
The Customs Friday won its second road game when it walked-over host Yelwa Hawks basketball club, Bauchi over the latter failure to make the venue good enough to host a basketball event as the premier league having beaten Tapgun Rockets basketball club of Jos by 74-67 points.
The Atlantic conference side, however, lost to Niger Potters of Minna (64-61), went down to Plateau Peaks of Jos (83-61), fell to Bauchi Net basketball club (74-71). |
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| Comets stake pride against Warriors | |
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| | | The Sports Hall of the Lagos National will today (Saturday) come alive as former Nigeria premier league champion and reigning Atlantic Conference Champion of the premier league, Ebun Comets basketball club take to the floor against Dodan Warriors basketball in an Atlantic conference pairing of the Nigeria premier league.
Comets coached by former Nigeria senior national team coach, Ayo Bakare must be at their best to stop the rampaging of the Coaches Adeka Dauda and Peter Ahmedu tutored Warriors side.
While Warriors is enjoying a 2-1 record in the league so far, Comets can only boast of a 1-2 record which puts them at the edge going into todays game which many have described as one match that will produce all the trapping and tricks in the slamming and dunking game.
Players to watch out for;
Comet Denis Ebikoro, a very reliable forward, adjudged the best at the low post in the Nigeria scene for now
Orseer Ikyaator a point guard of great potential and ability, his court vision is a plus for him.
Deji Egbeyemi a 6 feet, 2 inch tall off-guard with a leap of 7 footer, a fearless lad who can take on his challenger at will.
Dodan Warriors Mohammed Bukir, expectedly the best in the warriors pack, a lad with great potential and speed.
Edwin Obodo Jerry, cut his basketball teeth with Wahab Folawiyo High School at the annual Nestle Milo Secondary School Championship and since grown into a big player little wonder when he was handed the captainship of the Warriors side.
...Union Bank set 20-points margin against Islanders
And on Sunday at same venue, star-studded Union Bank basketball club of Lagos has set a 20-points margin as they play host to Islanders basketball club.
In a chat with www.fiba-africa.com, an official of the bankers says the Islanders team coached by former Nigeria international point guard, Ogoh Odaudu were lucky to have escaped with a 55-40 points lose in the Lagos City league game Wednesday.
But in quick reaction the Islanders team was united in their opinion that basketball is not played by mere wishes and promised to shock the Union Bank team.
Sunday game between the Union Bank and Islanders may see slight changes on the line-up of both sides, as Union Bank have promised to unleash two former member of opponent (Baba Jibril and Michael Ohiero) come Sunday.Adesola Alayande (183-G-84) |
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| Udoka's Spurs are on the right way | |
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by Eurobasket News - Apr 30, 2008 | | | Ime Udoka (196-F/G-77, agency: Edge Sports, college: Portland St.) and his San Antonio advanced to the next round of NBA Play-offs in the battles over Suns. Tim Duncan was in form notching 29 points and 17 boards to lead the hosts to a 92:87 victory. Tony Parker continued with his sizzling performance scoring 31 points for the winners. Boris Diaw scored 22 points for the Suns. Amare Stoudemire was limited to 15 points and 11 boards in a loss. The home team was up by one in the final minute. Emanuel Ginobili scored just one free throw but Steve Nash could not handle the ball and Ginobili was sent to charity stripe again. He made both free throws and gave the Spurs a 91:87 advantage. Steve Nash could not connect on a saving triple and Tim Duncan sealed the winning outcome from free throw line.Ime Udoka had a good game with 5 points and 7 rebounds. San Antonio will now take on the New Orleans in the Western conference semis.
Before that Phoenix sweetened the pill a bit after they thumped San Antonio 105:86 in Game 4 in Arizona. The Suns jumped to a 34:13 lead after the starting frame and kept the Spurs at bay for the rest of the encounter. Raja Bell topscored for the home team netting 27 points. Boris Diaw added 20 points, 10 boards and 8 assists for the winners. Steve Nash ended up with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Tony Parker paced the Spurs with 18 points. Ime Udoka provided 4 points and 5 rebounds.
In Game 3 Tony Parker scored career-high 41 points and the San Antonio Suns put Phoenix on the edge of elimination. The Spurs never looked like playing away from home cruising to a 115:99 victory at the US Airways Arena and grabbing a 3-0 lead in the series. Tim Duncan scored 23 points and pulled down 10 boards, while Emanuel Ginobili contributed 20 points as the Spurs never trailed en route to the third success. Amare Stoudemire had 28 points and 11 boards for the Suns but it hardly gladdened a sell-out crowd at the US Airway Center. The Spurs jumped to a 27:12 lead early in the game and never allowed the Suns closer than 13 points. Ime Udoka collected 2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. |
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| "We are good for the cup" - boasts Nigeria coach | |
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| | | The 2008 edition of the Durban High School Invitational tournament tips off Thursday with seven high schools from the Africa continent.
The tournament, according to the organizer Myles Delport, is to create a competitive environment amongst kids of high school age.
Delport says the tournament is in two phases, with over twenty schools taking part in the first phase while seven schools are slugging it out in the second and final phase. The Nigeria Luminary School, Warri, South South Nigeria will carry the West Africa giant flag.
The Luminary school is made up of twelve players and its coach, Gbubeni Fregene, a man with nose for raw and budding talent as head coach, departed the shore of Nigeria last Sunday aboard South African Airways for the week-long tournamnet.
The tournament format, according to Col. Sam Ahmedu (Rtd), would see the seven schools playing in different basketball courts in the Durban province of South South with each school accumulating points as they move around the Kwazulu province to determine the eventual winner.
Beaming with great confidence, Luminary coach Fregene told www.fiba-africa.com that his ward will emerge as the champion come April 30 when the final leg of the tournament will be decided.
'I am confident that no team will stop us out there, I know the stuff my players are made up of and I understand the age-grade terrain very well.
'[These were] my words when I took a bunch of rookies out in 2005 for the World Secondary School tournament in Argentina and at the end my words came to pass as my boys did not only win the tournament but were unbeaten.
'We are going to do Delta State and Nigeria proud in this tournament because the country is the continent defending champion in the U18 FIBA Africa Championship for men especially when the last set of Nigeria U18 team won the last edition of the Africa Championship in Durban.' (edited by Jeremy Rubio)
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