LAGOS (Dstv Basketball League) - Four midweek matches held Wednesday across Nigeria in the Dstv Basketball League as planned. In the Atlantic Conference, Dodan Warriors defeated the Police Bombers 87-61 in the first of the two matches played at the National Stadium, Lagos. The game which started at 2.00pm was predicted by experts to go the way of the Warriors and the Warriors indeed did not disappoint their fans as the fight for the play off spots gathers momentum. The match was beamed live across the African continent on pay television channel Supersport 9. Supersport are technical partners of the league sponsors Dstv.
With that match over, the fans’ top of the table clash began at the same venue between Atlantic Conference table toppers Lagos Islanders and visiting Royal Hoopers from Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta. It was a tough one to call for experts as soon as the season began and after both sides had played a number of games. It indeed turned out a tough clash from the jump ball yesterday as the first quarter ended 16-16. By the break the scores stood at 40-32 for Islanders but the third and fourth quarters rallies of the Islanders gave them a 20-point win at 87-67. The victory means that the Islanders have not lost any match this season.
The Islanders are the only team very sure of hitting the play off season and most likely as leaders of their conference. Their supporters are already dreaming of the league trophy for this season even though their coach Ogo Odaudu does not want to be drawn into such predictions at this stage.
“I say Amen to that,” he said after the match.
In the Savannah Conference Bauchi Nets, who were playing at home, blew out Tapgun Rockets of Jos 72-38 in one of the biggest wins of the season. Yelwa Hawks will also be hosts to the same Rockets team on Thursday in Bauchi.
WEDNESDAY RESULTS
Dodan Warriors - Police Bombers: 81-67
Lagos Islanders – Royal Hoopers: 87-67
Bauchi Nets – Tapgun Rockets: 72-38
By Pius Ayinor,
FIBA Africa