Union Bank wins Vmobile Basketball Challenge

Vmobile Basketball Challenge: Abuja. Tuesday, August 09, 2005: Union Bank team from Atlantic Conference has emerged as winner of the first edition of Vmobile Basketball Challenge. The team beat Niger Potters in a tension-soaked encounter this afternoon during the 10th game of the Challenge by 88 – 84 points.

Both team had accumulated 6 points each from three games played, the encounter this afternoon was the decider of which team will go home with the trophy and represent Nigeria in African Club Championships.

Union Bank’s winning streak began in the opening game of the National Conference when it narrowly defeated Plateau Peaks by 70 – 69 points. The team gained a pyrrhic victory over Kano Pillars in the 6th game, when Victor Okoro netted in a three-pointer goal in the last second of the match and ended the game 75 – 72 points in favour of Union Bank.

Niger Potters, on it part, recorded impressive outings in the tournament by defeating Ebun Comets by 55 – 47 point in the 3rd game of the tournament. The team handed a 74 – 72 points defeat to Plateau Peaks in the 5th game, and nailed Kano Pillars’ chance of winning the Challenge by beating it with 66 – 62 points in game 7.

The match between Union Bank and Niger Potters displayed all the qualities of a final tournament. From the throw of the ball by 12:13pm, the payers displayed a rare skill in the game of basketball. Although Union took lead from the beginning of the game till the end with 22, 44, 64 and 88 points, as against Potters’ 19, 37, 61, and 84; Niger Potters’ determination to snatch the game from its opponent was apparent, when the team gave it the fight of its life and closed the gap in the 3rd quarter.

The 4th quarter witnessed the two teams scoring head to head, until Union Bank broke loose and capitalize on Potters’ infringement to take the lead through free throws.

Commenting on the game, an elated Emmanuel Okolo, Coach of Union Bank, said the team had thought that a second place would be sufficient for them, and so they decided to take each game as they come. On what was responsible for the team’s turn around, the coach said the team began training immediately after the Atlantic Conference in Lagos and continued the training in Abuja, notwithstanding the limited time available to them. He referred to his team’s match against Kano Pillars as the toughest his team played in the challenge. On what to look out for in his team’s performance in the Continental meet, Okolo said “we look forward to better whatever record Nigeria has in the continental Championships.”

Other games played today include that between Kano Pillars and Ebun Comets, and Nigeria Customs and Plateau Peaks. In the last game between Nigeria Customs and Union Bank on Monday, the latter wallops the former by 64 – 49 points.

The Challenge will end on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 with play offs between Plateau Peaks and Kano Pillars, Niger Potters and Nigeria Customs, while Union Bank will take on Ebun Comets.