City league: Union Bank draws Islanders

Union Bnak coach Emmanuel Okolo, who was one time assistant coach of the Islanders will lead his boys out in the race for a final ticket why the Toyin Sonoiki Islanders who placed fourth at the end of the City league regular game in June must be at their best if they must outwit the Star-studded Stallion boys.

Basking in the aftermath of winning the Abuja final-6 Vmobile challenge Union Bank is certainly the team to beat in the Lagos City league and in the second semi final reigning premier league champion, Ebun Comets basketball club will try Customs basketball club for size at 5.00pm.

The coach Ayo Bakare tutored former Akure based Comets will be without its reliable forward Akin Akintunde who recently joined the  professional rank with a modest basketball club in Bahrain while Customs on the other hand will bank on the D'Tigers shooting guard, Abdulrahman Mohammed to do further damage to the Ogo odaudu captained Comets and proved that it victory over the Nigeria most respected privately own club in Abuja during the Vmobile challenge contest was not a fluke.

The third place game and grand finale comes up on Sunday at same venue by 2.00pm and 4.00pm respectively with the first three placed teams going home with mouth watering cash award, trophies and medals for their efforts.

According to the Chairman of the Lagos State Basketball Association, LSBBA, Babs Ogunade, its a must that teams are rewarded with cash and other form of incentive so as appreciate the good work of the club owners and the players input.

The former Nigeria senior national team forward promised that the next edition billed for 2006 will be more bigger in terms of what the winning teams get as award.

The LSBBA chairman congratulated the NBBF and the Nigerian basketball community on the qualification of D'Tigers for the Japan 2006 FIBA World championship but call for early preparation so that the team can make an appreciable appearance at the global fiesta.

Ogunade believed that with proper prepartion Nigeria will rule the Africa continent and become a force to recknon with in basketball globally