Basketball
Nigeria Customs Crowned Kings, as 2022 Mark D Ball Men’s Championship Ends in Abuja
Nigeria Customs were on Sunday night, crowned Champions of the 2022 Mark D Ball Men’s Basketball Tournament, after inflicting a 61-55 defeat, on new Abuja franchaise Mo Heat, in the final of the Elite 8 tournament, played at the Indoor Sports Hall, located in Package B, of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
D’Tigers player, Ibe Agu who captained Customs contributed 17 points, 2 fewer than his team mate Michael Daramola, whose 19 points was matched by Mo Heat’s top scorer, Bright Akhuetie, while Owen Michael could only manage 13 points, for the Mo Heat, who literarily lost their way in the last quarter.
Going into the finalé watched by a capacity crowd and graced by eminent personalities, including a representative of the minister of youth and Sports Development, Abba Yola,a former Senator representing Kogi West Senetoral district, Dino Melaye and Directors of Sports from the FCT, Plateau, Niger and Benue.
Mo Heats were unbeaten, and favourites to take the title, having already beaten the Customs side, in the build of to the final.
The first quarter being nervous one , ended 15-15, with both teams fighting hard in the second quarter and even at the end of the 3rd quarter, it was still a tight game at 47 baskets, apiece.
Nigeria Customs started the last quarter with more zeal and purpose, pulled away, and eventually were able to hold off a late challenge mounted by Mo Heats to win the final by 6 clear points.
Victory ensured that they emulated their ladies folks, who also won the women’s tournament, played towards the end of 2021.
On the other hand, defeat for Mo Heat, was their very first and only defeat in the 32-team tournament.
Kanyinsola Odufuwa top scored with 25, while Wisdom Anyaoha had 17 dunks as Gombe Bulls won the 3rd Place game that preceded the final, by again beating Kano Pillars, 67-62 to take the bronze medal, and N1 million, as prize money.
The Bulls had also prevailed 63-57 against the Sai Masu Gida, when both sides met earlier, in the final 8; and their undoing was over relying on veteran captain, Abubakar Usman, whose 14 points and 2 assists, fell short of unsettling the Bulls from Gombe, who triumphed despite not having their Head Coach, on the bench.
The Winners, Nigeria Customs got a N2 million cheque, as Prize Money, while the losing finalist, Mo Heat took home N1.5 million.
Basketball
Team Plateau Crowned Champions of CDS U-18 Basketball Championship in Abuja
…As FCT Defeats Kaduna 70–53 to Clinch Bronze
By Joel Ajayi
Team Plateau on Wednesday emerged champions of the second edition of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Democracy Day U-18 Basketball Championship after defeating M2 Academy 50-36 in a fiercely contested final.
The championship game, played at the indoor basketball court of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, was a thrilling display of grassroots basketball talent. Both Plateau and M2 Academy entered the final unbeaten, setting the stage for one of the tournament’s most intense matchups.
The Plateau boys started strong, edging the first quarter 8–6. They built on that momentum in the second quarter, extending their lead to 27–20 by capitalizing on defensive lapses from M2 Academy.
Although M2 Academy responded with a stronger third quarter, Plateau managed to maintain their advantage, finishing the quarter 36–32. The final quarter was all Plateau, as they pulled away to seal the victory with a final score of 50–36.
Earlier in the third-place match, also held at the indoor basketball court (Package B) of the stadium, the FCT U-18 boys’ team defeated their Kaduna counterparts 70–53 in a dominant performance.
The FCT side controlled all four quarters with superior teamwork, accurate shooting, and solid defensive play to secure the bronze medal.
The five-day tournament, themed “Encouraging Grassroots Basketball Talents”, aimed to identify, nurture, and promote young basketball talents capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
A total of 16 teams—10 male and 6 female—participated in the championship, which tipped off on Saturday, June 14, and concluded on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
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