City league: Union Bank, Comets in final duel

The Emmanuel Okolo tutored Stallion boys defeated hard fighting Islanders 76-73 points in the first semi final decided yesterday (Friday) at same venue.

The Gboyega Vidal inspired team who were almost stunned by the youthful former premier league champion (Islanders) coached by 8th All Africa Games bronze winning Nigeria senior national team, Toyin Sonoiki lost the first quarter 21-19 points, but came back strongly in the second quarter with a 17-14 points win to put first time scores at 36-35.

The third quarter witnessed a more purposeful play as the two side were not prepared to surrender easily with Union Bank falling by 15-14 points to even scores at 50 points apiece but has their experienced forward, Ejike Ugboaja to thank as the Nigeria U-21 key player brought his wealth of international experience to bear on the team scoring vital points and at the same picking up valuable rebounds for 26-23 fourth quarter.

In the second semi-final Comets rose from its initial set back in the first quarter (10-07) to beat determined Customs by 53-48 points (15-14), (16-10) and (14-14) as captain Ogo Odaudu, Baba Jibril, Rasheed Bello, Dennis Ebikoro with supports from Malik Tella and Mike Udo put in their best to curtail the rampaging border boys whose guard youthful Mike Ohiero who knows the Comets inside out almost wreck havoc with fans cheering evry moves the former Comets apprentice makes.

Sunday’s final would be the fourth meeting between Union Bank and Comets this year with the Stallion boys having the upper hand having defeated Comets twice and lost just once to the Ayo Bakare tutored side.

While Union Bank will bank is still savouring its victory over the Comets in the last game of the NBBF/Vmobile challenge in Abuja, Comets entire team on the other hand will be seeking for revenge and to fulfill its ambition of winning a laurel in the outgoing year.

The third place game which precedes the final will be between Islanders and Customs at 2.00pm.