(by Olusegun Ikuesan) africabasket.com
Kada Stars hope of qualifying for its second consecutive playoffs receive a big boost Saturday when the Coach Sani Turi side defeated visiting Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi by 73-68 points.
The visitor who raced to a first half lead of (14-12 and 20-16) were made to kiss the court in the third and fourth quarters by the home team forcing them down by 26-16 and 19-18 points lose for a cumulative score-line of 73-68 points.
Kada Stars forward, Yusuf Oyaifo Yakubu who records a double double figure of 13 rebounds, 10 points, 3 assists and 2 steal says his side is committed to making it to Port Harcourt for the playoffs.
Im happy we won today (Saturday) which is good for our playoffs ambition, but I must give credit to the Yelwa players who were not ready to go down easily, they are a solid side but the good thing is that we won, said the Kada Stars forward.
In Kano it was defending champion, Kano Pillars all the way as they spanked AHIP Giants by a whopping 40 points difference of 89-49 points.
Pillars back-line anchored by Abubakar Usman proved a hard nut for the AHIP Giants side to crack as they turned the week-32 Savannah conference pairing to a one-sided game.
The win took their record to 7-1 while Niger Potters basketball club defeated Bauchi Nets basketball club by 48-39 points in a lack-luster game in Minna.
And on Sunday Coach Oche Omuh tutored Yelwa Hawks lost narrowly to Plateau Peaks at the sports hall of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna by 69-67 points.
The lose by the Hawks to the Peaks making it two consecutive road game lose and a 3-7 record as their hope of making the final-8 playoffs now hangs in the balance with four games left for them in the regular season.
Weekend Results:
Atlantic Conference
Ebun Comets 79-67 Police Baton
Union Bank 87-79 Dodan Warriors OT
NGR Customs 60-91 Ebun Comets
Savannah Conference
Kada Stars 73-68 Yelwa Hawks
AHIP Giants 49-89
Niger Potters 48-39 Bauchi Nets
Plateau Peaks 69-67 Yelwa Hawks