ASABA (Zenith Bank League) - Dolphins returned to the Zenith Bank Basketball League on Monday but could not swim very well on their re-entry losing by 64-45 to defending champions First Bank in Asaba – in the South-south region of Nigeria.
The former league runners-up were absent from the first phase which ended April in Kano. The Asaba leg of the competition is the second phase of the three-phased league for Nigerian women.
In the first match of the competition in the Delta State capital, AHIP Queens of Kano drilled Immigration ladies 74-43 before the Dolphins and the Elephant Girls stepped out for the star match of the day. In the third match of the day, Delta Force beat Plateau Rocks 67-37 while the table leaders from the Kano leg Deepwater cut FCT Angels by 86-33 points.
The competition in Asaba will play through next week for the ten teams. By the design of this year’s competition, the top four teams will feature in the play off scheduled for next month in Lagos. Going by the first phase placing, Deepwater, Sunshine Angels, First Bank, Delta Force and AHIP are in the running for the play off spots.
The winner of the Zenith League and runners up will represent Nigeria in the 2010 FIBA Africa club championship holding in the last quarter of the year.
Day-1 Results:
Nigeria Immigration 43-75 AHIP
Dolphin 45-64 First Bank
Plateau Rocks 37-67 Delta Force
First Deepwater 86-33 FCT Angels
Sunshine Angels 20-0 Nigeria Customs (W/O)
Day-2 Games:
Plateau Rocks Vs Nigeria Customs 09H00
Nigeria Immigration Vs First Bank 11H00
FCT Angels Vs Dolphin 13H00
AHIP Vs Sunshine Angels 15H00
Delta Force Vs First Deepwater 17H00
By Pius Ayinor,
FIBA Africa