Basketball

Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship: Mo’ Heat edge Gombe Bulls

Published

3 years ago

February 8, 2022

Mo’ Heat Basketball Club on Monday edged Gombe Bulls 73-70 to make it two straight wins in a row at the ongoing Mark ‘D’ Ball Basketball Championship in Abuja.

The three-month long championship which began on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium is expected to end in April.

Mo’ Heat had earlier defeated Hot Coal 74 – 55 in their opening game.

Mohammed Shehu, the Proprietor of Mo’ Heat Basketball Club told Journalists that it was a very tough but sweet victory, adding that his goal was to develop the game at the grassroots.

“I had a feeling that we were going to win the game. It’s very interesting and it shows that all the hardwork we have put into the game is beginning to pay off.

“Our basic target is to develop the game at the grassroots in the country.

“We are in the business of searching for young talents and developing them to become the stars of tomorrow and that’s what we’ve been doing all this while,” he said.

Shehu added that the team’s next target was to ensure participation in the Nigeria Basketball Premier League, adding that the league was the real test for the players.

“Our dream is to join the Nigeria Basketball Premier League as soon as the ongoing Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) crisis is resolved so as to improve the skills of these developed talents through the league.

“The Mark ‘D’ Ball Men’s Basketball Championship in itself is a private and a very good initiative by the new NBBF President, Mark Igoche.

“However, there is a need for these players to participate in the real and highest ranked league in the country, which is the Nigeria Basketball Premier League.

“This is where the players can really be tested so as to ascertain their level of fitness and compatibility as well as the quality of our investment,” he said.

The Mo’ Heat boss decried the poor state of basketball in the last four years in the country, especially on the domestic scene.

He however said he was confident that the league would be resuscitatated as soon as possible with the emergence of Igoche as the new NBBF President.

“We have a new president now and I know him very well.

“He is going to swing into action and ensure that the league is resuscitatated.”

Results of other matches played on Monday at the championship show Apa Flames losing 65-93 to Hot Coal Ballers.

Safety Knights beat Ahip Giants 81-74 and Nile University Spartans defeated Police Baton 68-64.

Tuesday’s games will see Ahip Giants take on Police Baton, while Mo’ Heat face Safety Knights.

Hot Coal Ballers will battle against Gombe Bulls, while Nile University Spartans lock horns with Apa Flames.

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Basketball

Match Day 2: Nigeria Customs Basketball Women`s Team Hold On beats Societte OmniSports 66-59

Published

13 hours ago

November 7, 2024

The Gleamer

Oluwabusayo Olowookere

The Nigeria Customs Women Basketball Team had to stay strong in the final quarter of their encounter against Societte Omnisport De L`Armee of Ivory Coast to win 66-59 points at ongoing FIBA Africa Women`s Basketball League Zone 3 Qualifer inside the SKD Gymnasium Paynesville Morovia Liberia.

The Customs Ladies, who secured their first win Teusday started on a strong footing dictating the flow of the game against their opponent Kourtni Perry and Tobiloba Ogedengbe ensuring that the team keep their solidity when defending and on the attack to end the first quarter 24-18 in favour of the Customs Ladies.

In the second quarter, a resilient Customs ladies who pushed took further control of the game scoring 16points as against 8points of their Ivorian opponent finishing the half time at 40-26 points.

On resuming into the third quarter, the bench of Societte Omnisport De L`Armee lifted their team to go all out as they came trying to force the Border Girls into their shell as they scored 18 points to Customs 14 points to cut the lead to 10points going into the break.

In the last quarter, Coach Abdulrahman of Nigeria Customs Service Basketball team deployed every tactics of the game to ensure that they kill of the energy of the Ivorien ladies as they kept on pushing on to find a way back into the game but at the end lost it out by 66-59 points to the Adewale Adeniyi ladies.

Reacting after the game, Head Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed admitted that the game was very difficult but experience got the results for them.

“First of all let me thanked my ladies for holding on in the game because it a game that was more physical and energy consuming for us, we both had a win in our opening game and I told my girls it won`t be an easy game, but I am happy we got the needed result”.

“We are here to win again and we must take every game to get to our target here. Every team here are not a pushover so for we have to put this one behind us and get set for our next game”.

The FIBA Zone 3 AWBL defending champion Nigeria Customs Service Basketball club will tomorrow evening play their last group game against Commissioners of Liberia at the same venue.

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