Lagos, Kaduna off to a good start

Lagos State male team this morning at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta, Ogun State got off to a brinliant start in the basketball event of the 15th National Sports Festival tagged “The Gateway Games” beating Nasarawa State by a whopping 84-60 points.

The Lagos boys who were determined to reclaim the festival gold medal it lost to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), two years ago displayed superior basketball skill as they ratled the Nasarawa boys from all the department of the game.

Defending champion, FCT also got the better of youthful Delta State team with a 51-44 points win to announce their readiness top return to the Nigeria capital with the gold medal it won while playing host to other states.

In the first game decided today Kaduna displaying matured basketball skill handed down a 66-59 point defeat of host Ogun in a tension soaked match.

The Ogun team had taken an early lead in the first two quarters but lost steam when it matter most in the third quarter bowing to the beautiful combination of the trio of Louis Edem Ekpeyong, Ejike Ugboaja and Sati Paul.

Two matches were decided this morning in the female category with host Ogun pummeling hapless Abia by 102-30 points to send a clear signal to Lagos and Delta States and in the second female game played Edo defeated FCT by 44-36 points.

Delta State and Lagos State will entertain fans in a match that could pass as the star-match of the evening.

The encounter which has been dubbed final before the final as both side might still met in the course of the competition.

Kano and Borno will take to court-2 in the male category in group-B just as Bayelsa and Anambra playing in group-A will do battle at 6.00pm.

Imo must be up doing against Borno at 6.00pm on court-1 if they must keep their semi-final qualification hope alive.