(by Olusegun Ikuesan)
FIBA Africa Champions Club Competition reigning highest scorer, Mohammed Bukar proved very valuable for his Nigerian club-side, Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos when he posted a five-star performance to save the Warriors from another defeat against visiting Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt in a week-3 Atlantic conference pairing of the NBBF/DStv premier league at the national stadium, Lagos at the weekend.
The Warriors who grabbed a total of 21 rebounds, with a turn-over ratio of seven in the entire duration of the game won the first quarter by 21-17 points, but the win seems to wake-up the Royal Hoopers players who fired back in the second quarter with the same points deficit of 19-15 points to go into the break with equal points of 36.
Hoopers coached by one-time captain of the Dodan Warriors, Ogoh Odaudu took the battle to the Warriors upon resumption of play in the third quarter with beautiful combination and good vision of Anyebe Ujoh, Moses Daudu, Kingsley Aguara, Farouk Oyalade and Musa Usman to win the quarter by 22-15 points to open up a seven points lead of 58-51 points going into the last quarter.
With defeat stirring the Warriors side in the face, Bukar and his teammates decided to take the bull by the horn when the confront the bigger and more established Royal Hoopers side strength for strength in the fourth and decisive quarter, launching a forensic attack as the Hoopers defense was caught napping several time.
The bold move by Bukar and his teammates, however paid off as they won the fourth quarter by 22-12 points to pick its first win since the league began three weeks ago by 73-70 points.
Though Royal Hoopers were better on the board with 36 rebounds but Dodan Warriors sensational guard, Bukars 20 points and 4 rebounds; Oladipo Osunubi 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists, Busayo Akinola 13 points and Peter Echoi 10 points were enough to give victory to Dodan Warriors