Vmobile Challenge: Comets keep clean slate

The Ayo Bakare tutored side having realized their complacent style of play against Nigeria Customs basketball club last Friday which it managed to win by 61-56 points, descended on the Warriors from the blast of the referees’ whistle winning the first quarter 21-13, slowed down a little in the second quarter thereby giving the quarter away to the rampaging boys of Col. Sam Ahmedu 14-15.

At resumption of the second stanza, the former Akure based team put every foot right to win the remaining two quarters (third and fourth) 15-12 and 29-24 respectively to end the game 79-64 thus making it qualification for the final-6 coming up in the Nigeria capital city of Abuja between August 6 and 10, 2005 looks realistic.

It was a day the Comets team rose to the challenge with all its department working effectively as one unit, captain of the side Ogo Odaudu, Priwitt Gagara, Ayo Samuel taking turn to control the floor from the rear while Baba Jibril and Rasheed Bello complimented the efforts of the point guards to confirm pre-tournament rating that the club parade the best perimeter players in the country, the team post players also show lots understanding with Three Rivers College graduate, Akin Akintunde, Malik Tella, Dennis Ebikoro, youthful George Ehiagwina and Mike Udo living up to the billing.

In the first game played Saturday, Islanders basketball club played itself back to contention with a 72-66 points victory over Delta Force basketball club of Asaba winning the first three quarters 20-18, 17-15 and 22-18 while Lateef Erinfolami boys from Asaba only managed a 15-14 points win in the fourth quarter.

With the victory over Delta Force, the Toyin Sonioki tutored Islanders’ qualification for the grand finale depends on how it approaches its day-3 game today against Warriors who is the only side not to have registered a win so far.

Onyeka Onyekwelu led the Islanders on the scorers' chat with 20 points, Michael Ogheneme added 18 and Seun Akinwale 11 to seal victory for the former Nigerian premier league champions, while forward Joshua Agbona provided enough cover grabbing 10 rebound and 6 points.

Kashim Ahmed of Delta Force led his team in scoring with 15 points followed by Morgan Egodo, who added 12 and small forward and kid brother of Monday Paul of Ebun Comets Sati Paul Gombwer had 11 points to his credit.

In the second game of day-2 of the Vmobile challenge Customs basketball club kept its final-6 hope alive with a 72-63 points victory over star-studded Union Bank basketball club with the fans yelling for more action from the borders boys coached by Scott Nnaji.

The border boys who appears to have learnt it lesson the bitter way after throwing away it day-1 game against Comets last Friday went all out against the Stars from Union Bank, though the Abdulrahmen Mohammed inspired side went down 10-15 points in the first quarter, it came back strongly to win the remaining three quarters (15-12), (26-23) and (19-13) respectively.

The Nigeria senior national team dependable two-guard, Mohammed lifted his side with 18 points while youthful dynamite Mike Ohiero who is the revelation of the on-going challenge had 14 points, 6 assists, 4 steal and 3 rebound, Oludare Borokini had 14 points, and 9 rebounds.

Union Bank was led on the scoring chat by small forward Edem Ekpeyong who was the only player to record a double-double for his team in an evening that almost everything went sourfor the Stallion boys with 16 points, 10 rebounds.

Action continues today with three games on the bill as the six teams continue their quest for the three slots at stake.

Dodan Warriors Versus Islanders – This encounter holds a lot for the two teams, while Islanders will try to justify its 72-66 points victory over Warriors day-1 conqueror, Delta Force, Warriors coach, Alex Owoicho and his boys are conscious that any further slip in today’s encounter would spell the end of the road for them.

Aside the ticket that is at stake, Islanders will be on a vengeance mission today having lost its regular game of the Lagos City league to the Warriors and brightened their chances of a final-6 ticket.

In terms of strength, both teams could be said to be evenly matched but that alone might not be the deciding factor here but what comes from the bench which seems to favour Islanders with Sonoiki calling the shot from the sideline.

Customs Versus Delta Force – If only Customs could reenact their Saturday performance which saw them out playing Union Bank in all department of the game then today’s encounter could be said to be a walk-over for the Gyang Buba boys, but since basketball is no mathematics but a game that is full of surprises then the border boys should watch their back else they pay dearly for any act of complacency against a Delta side whose coach, Erinfolami knows what it means to lose two games back-to-back.

On paper the odd seems favour Customs going by the number of experience players in the team and Delta on the other hand is a mixture of few experience players and a bunch of rookies who are out to make a name for themselves and are capable of springing surprises just as they did against Warriors.

Union Bank versus Comets – This is one match that has all the trapping of a star match going by the avalanche of talents on both team with Comets holding the ace as the best perimeter team with at least ten players with national team and continental basketball competition experience while Union Bank is loaded up front with almost equal number of players with national team and continental experience.

While Union Bank will be a little under pressure due to it lost to Customs yesterday Comets will not only attempt to consolidate it hold on the top spot in the conference but will aim for a revenge having been humiliated by the Stallion boys earlier this year in the regular game of the Lagos City league which the bankers won 61-49 points.

Union Bank will pray that its perimeter players led by Victor Okoro live up to expectation to contain Comets so as to brighten their final-6 chances, Comets on the other hand will count on its sharp shooters of Baba Jibril, Rasheed Bello, Ogo Odaudu and Priwitt Gagara to deliver the maximum points at stake and keep their pride intact.