Vmobile PBL Finals: Comets set to trap Peaks

2003 premier league champion, Ebun Comets basketball club of Lagos is not leaving anything to chance as the Ayo Bakare tutored side is eyeing the league shield once again.

The former Akure-based side will open the Vmobile league finals against Savannah conference side Plateau Peaks basketball club of Jos in a charged encounter.

Going into the finals without the services of three of its regular players who are away on national assignment Comets is prepared to make do with the remaining players available to it against the Peaks who placed second in the Savannah conference playoffs last weekend.

Coached by former national team tactician, Bakare popularly known as ‘Waka’ in basketball circle the Comets side are back to familiar terrain having being there before on several occasions but whether some of it young players would be able to cope against a Peaks side that parades the likes of Ibrahim Tat, Job Nelson and Stanley Gumut is another thing altogether.

The team will bank on its reliable captain Baba Jibril whose leadership command of other players in the squad is no in doubt with assistance from Rasheed Bello, Michael Ohiero, Deji Egbeyemi, Abdulwahab Yakubu, Ehime Orukpe, Malik Tella, Denis Ebikoro, Okechukwu Anonye and back to duty Christain Okpara.

The second encounter of the first-day of hostilities would be between Savannah conference leaders, Niger Potters basketball club of Minna against Atlantic conference runner-up Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos in what promises to be a very exciting match.

Potters play maker and Savannah conference most valuable player, Abubakar Usman must be on their guide against a Warriors side who live by their name ‘warriors’.

Though the Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd) Obalende, Lagos-based Warriors like the Comets will be without the services of three of their players who are also part of the junior national team campaigning for honour at the 15th FIBA Africa Championship in Durban, South Africa the rest of the players have, however, resolved to give a good account of themselves in the final campaign.

The Potters who depend mostly on the fourth quarter to out run its opponents will have its hand full against the Atlantic conference sides who are equally master planners of taking their opponents to the cleaner in all the quarters.

Potters coach, Abdul Kuta said, “This is our best chance of lifting the league shield after so many trials,” the coach is possibly banking on the fact that the two Atlantic conference teams (Comets and Warriors) would be without the services of some of their key players.

Comets and especially Lagos fans will miss the cool headed nature and good ball handling of its points guard Oseer Ikyaator, the shooting skill of small forward George Ehiagwina and the fighting spirit of centre, Frank Ben-Eze while the Warriors are worried that their respected point guard and good mask-man Seyi Ahmed will not be around to send fans on ecstatic mood with his three points shoots, the power play of forward Mbaram Omori and Seyi Ayodele who are all integral member of the junior national team.

In all this promises to be the best as the sponsor, Vmobile have concluded arrangement to add glamour to the grand finale with a piece of what to expect being showcased at the Savannah conference leg of the playoffs where fans were treated to the best of hospitality.