Vmobile challenge: Comets, Union Bank, Delta Force

The Indoor sports hall of the Lagos national stadium came alive last Friday as the Atlantic conference of the Vmobile challenge dunks off.

The indoor which now wear a new look thanks to the refurbishment work carried out on it in 2003 and has since remain under lock and key was thrown open by the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF for its flagship competition the premier league tagged ‘Vmobile Challenge’ as fans in their hundred trooped to the national stadium to catch a glimpse of top basketball action which they have been deprived of for a long time.

Reigning Nigeria champion, Ebun Comets basketball club of Lagos put up some resistance in the last quarter of the opening encounter to pick a valuable win at thye expense of more determine Nigeria Customs basketball club by 61-56 (13-17), 13-11), (18-17) and (17-11) with Comets off-guard Rasheed Bello saving the day for the Ayo Bakare tutored cocoa boys.

In the second game of the day Star-studded Union Bank basketball club of Lagos justify its pre-match rating by overwhelming former Nigeria four champion, Lagos islanders by 84-57 points (19-12), (19-20), 23-08) and (23-17) with guard Victor Okoro being the star player on the roster of the Stallion boys.

Delta Force basketball club of Asaba on the other hand posted a surpeised win of the night when it took Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos to the cleaner in its first premier league action after a long layoff.

The Asaba based team coached by former Nigerian international Lateef Erinfolami who were consider as outsider in the five-day challenge recorded an 82-72 points of 18-19, 14-15, 15-19 and 35-19 victory over the Warriors who did not believe what hit them at the end of the encounter.

Action continue today as Delta Force square up against Islanders in the first game, Union Bank basketball club will attempt to compound the Customs problem as both side take to the court for the maximum poits at stake, the match could go for the star-match-of-the-day going by the quality of players at the disposal of the two teams which the borders must not drop else they can as well forget playing in the final-6 holding in Abuja between August 6 and 10, while Comets and Dodan Warriors will continue their rivalry as they are set to thrill basketball faithful that thronged the indoor of the Lagos national stadium.