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*** NIGERIAN MEN BASKETBALL MAIN PAGE ***
 | Josiah Ahmedu, Dodan Warriors official beat-up City League Secretary | |
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| |  | ..For Walking Over Warriors Academy
An official of Dodan Warriors Basketball Project, Josiah Ahmedu Tuesday threw decorum to the wind when he inflicted barrages of slaps, kicks and blows on the League Secretary of the Lagos City League, Olusegun Ikuesan for supervising a walk-over the Warriors Academy Monday.
Ahmedu who was not at the match venue on when the said walk-over ceremony was performed by the referees first sent an offensive short message service (SMS) to the City League official only to show up on Tuesday during the premier league match between Kano Pillars basketball club and Islanders basketball club at the Sports Hall of the Lagos National Stadium.
The incident sent many wondering when its now fashionable to settle sport matter with outright hooliganism from teams official who ought to know the right thing to do to seek audience with organizers.
The Warriors Academy alongside three other teams (Chariot basketball club and Ikorodu Kings basketball club) failed to complied with simple registration procedure for the league even when the Lagos State Basketball Association, LSBBA, organizers of the city league had allowed each teams to play two league matches with repeated warning that teams that failed to returned its registration forms and have its players licenses processed to do so or risk forfeiture of their third game as punishment.
The 4th edition of the City League started on April 30 and still the enraged Warriors official says the period is not enough for teams to complete their registration.
Ikuesan who combine the job of the City League Secretary with that of the head of the media committee of the LSBBA is also a Correspondent with fiba.com and fiba-afrique.org. |
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| Pillars end Islanders unbeaten run | |
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| | | Kano Pillars basketball club Tuesday handed Islanders basketball club of Lagos its first defeat in the current season of the Nigeria premier league with 71-66 points.
Pillars who were simply spectacular in the game many had given to the Ogoh Odaudu Coached Islanders due to their pedigree in the Atlantic Conference were shocked by the more determined Pillars propelled by Ibrahim Yusuf who was at his best Tuesday night.
Yusuf who was a member of the Nigeria U19 team to the 15th FIBA World Championship in 2007 in Serbia and the Nigeria senior national to the 2007 FIBA Africa Championship in Angola said after the match that determination saw them through and that they are prepared to take more games in the Atlantic conference so as to shore up their position in the Savannah conference and a good finishing for the playoff later in the year.
Islanders coach, Odaudu on his part says his players lost the match before the jump-ball, the players felt they have arrived having defeated great teams like Ebun Comets, Dodan Warriors and Union Bank in the Atlantic conference now felt no team can stop them, I think they learn one or two things that this is a league and not a championship.
Pillars continue its quest for more road-game successes as they take on Ebun Comets basketball club today.Ibrahim Yusuf (196-G-89) |
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| Lagos City league: Comets declare war on Union Bank... As Dodan Warriors set to ambush Islanders | |
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| | | The Sports Hall of the Lagos National Stadium will come alive once again on Sunday as four top Atlantic Conference teams of the Nigeria Basketball Federation organized premier league battle for supremacy in the 4th Lagos City league.
At 14.00 hours local time, Ebun Comets basketball club will take to the floor against Union Bank basketball club in what promises to be a must watch match going by the pedigree of both sides.
Comets coached by former Nigeria senior national team tactician, Ayodele Bakare popularly known in Nigeria basketball circle as WAKA will want to prove that its 67-41 points spanking of Dodan Warriors in a premier league pairing last weekend was not a fluke.
Comets, 2001 runner-up of the now rested FIBA Africa Cup Winners Cup will rely on the likes of guards Mike Ogheneme, Deji Egbeyemi and Orseer Ikyaator, forwards Denis Ebikoro and Mike Udo to rattle star-studded Union Bank side that parade the best crop of players at the Nigeria local scene, but have the issue of management to contend with as that cane to the fore last weekend when it failed to manage its early lead over Islanders basketball club in a premier league game.
Some of the players expected to feature for the Union Bank against Ebun Comets in Sunday grudge game includes former Ebun Comets captain, Baba JIbril, Michael Ohiero, Daniel Daudu, Daniel Iremiren, Azuoma Dike, Sola Alayande, Dare Borokini, Friday Ujoh, Chris Okoh, Joshua Agbona among other top players acquired by the banker.
And at 16.00 hours at same venue Dodan Warriors basketball club just recovering from the shock defeat to Comets will file out against Islanders coached by a former captain of the Warriors, Ogoh Odaudu.
The young Islanders coach who piloted its young side to the third place finishing in the City league last years says he has nothing to fear when his side files out against the Warriors coached by the duo of Adeka Dauda and Peter Ahmedu.
Coach Odaudu told www.fiba-africa.com in a chat that he is out to prove a point with the Islanders and hope to repeat last week smooth run when it humbled Union Bank basketball club 49-40 in a premier league game.Daniel Daudu (183-G-89) |
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| 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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