DStv PBL: Kano Pillars crown champion, beat Union Bank 86-75 - Sep 7, 2013
Kano Pillars basketball club on Friday became the new champion of Nigeria DStv Premier Basketball League beating Union Bank basketball club in a head-to-head situation after both sides finish the national final-4 playoffs on same points.
Kano Pillars who was undefeated in thirty-two games (28 regular season matches and four playoffs games) before it 71-76 points lose to Mark Mentors basketball club of Abuja in a Day-2 Pairing of the playoffs at the sports hall of the national stadium, Surulere, Lagos after seeing off Dodan Warriors basketball club of Lagos by 77-63 points in it national final-4 opening.
Propelled by mercurial shooting guard Abubakar Usman, Kano Pillars rose to the challenge of the final day against Union Bank basketball club who had won it earlier two games against Mark Mentors (75-62) and against Dodan Warriors (79-68) with a 29-19 points opening quarter win to set the tune for the final battle.
The new champion continue to pile more pressure on the Union Bank side in the second quarter but lost the quarter to a more resilient Union Bank side by 18-23 but still enjoy five point lead at the break (47-42).
Pillars was the better side in the third quarter with a 26-13 points but again lost the fourth quarter to Union Bank by 13-20 points to seal victory by 86-75 points to take the title while Union Bank settles for the second position with Dodan Warriors defeating Mark Mentors by 79-52 points to win the bronze medal.
Both Kano Pillars and Union Bank have thus qualify to represent Nigeria at the Africa Champions Cup Zone-3 qualifiers slated for October 7 through 15 in Monrovia, Liberia this year.
Usman recorded playoffs high of 31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steal; just as the duo of Mathew Onmonya and Dele Ademola contributed 13 points each to seal victory for Kano Pillars who are winning their third domestic title in five seasons (2009, 2010, 2013).
Atlantic Conference Stars Win 2013 Dstv Premier Basketball League All Star Game. - Sep 16, 2013
To Mark the end of the 2012/2013 basketball season, League sponsors Multichoice Nigeria and Nigerian Basketball Federation put together the All stars event over the weekend. The event comprised of a Celebrity All Star Game , 3points Shooting Challenge and a Premier League All star Game.
The Celebrity Game had the Captain of the DTigers Olumide Oyedeji and some A-List musicians and actors sweating it out on the court. The low scoring game ended 17-16 in favour of Beat fm All stars who played against Channel O All Stars. Popular Nigerian Singer Sound Sultan took home the Most Valuable Player Award despite ending up on the losing side. The other celebrities that took part in the match include Beat fm OAP Jimmie, Olisa Adibua ,Musicians Dare Art Alade, MI, Ikechkwu, Skales, Praiz, Teebillz,Steve of JJC , reality TV Star Melvin, Gideon Okeke,Gbenro Ajibade and many more.
After the celebrity game was the 3 point Challenge which Kada Stars 20 year old guard Timothy Kwaor claimed the Winners trophy beating Veterans like Lagos Islanders duo of Seyi Ayodele and Hillary Aigbhokaionde , Union Banks Obum Onya and Dodan Warriors Azuoma Dike.
Twelve Players were selected from premier league club to represent their conferences. The Atlantic conference had the Union Bank trio of Abayomi Oyeniyi ,Moses Daudu and Obum Onya, Lagos Islanders Hillary Aighokaionde ,Kayode Balogun , Ibrahim Okpe and Seyi Ayodele. Azuoma Dike and Oliver Joshua of Dodan Warriorrs, Femi Adekeye (Oluyole Warriors),Victor Anthony (Customs) and Royal Hoopers, Center Solomon Ajegbeyi and the team was coached by Royal Hoopers Ogoh Daudu while in the Savannah Conference, League Champions Kano Pillars had 7 representatives with 5 players and the coach Kano Pillars coach Sanni Mohammed named the Savannah conference stars coach. The 5 players include Final Four MVP Abubakar Usman, Onyeka Okeke, Dele Ademola, Mathew Onmonye and Shehu Mohammed , Mark Mentors supplied 4 players Mike Ohiero, Abdulwahab Yahaya, Dennis Ebikoro, and Nigerian International Stanley Gumut. Others in the Savannah Conference Squad are Kada Stars duo of Sadiq Adedeji and Timothy Kwaor and Chibuzor Njoku.
The game started with the Atlantic Conference stars leading the way 27-25 in the first quarter, however the Savannah conference side responded in the 2nd quarter outscoring their opponents 33-17 to take a 58-44 lead to the Half time break. The 3rd quarter was however high tempo with a host of 3point shots from both sides. Union Banks Obum Onya made three 3 pointers for the Atlantic Conference stars while Abubakar Usman had two back to back 3 pointers for the Savannah Conference Stars in the quarter. There was really nothing to separate both sides in the quarter although the Savannah conference stars still had the advantage going into the final quarter (78-65).
However, the Atlantic Conference stars had the last laugh thanks to Dodan Warriors Guard Azuoma Dike who was 87% from the field leading the Atlantic Conference stars charge to a wild comeback win in the game in final seconds. Azuoma ended up with 20 points and 6 assists, and went home with the Most valuable player Award and a sum of N250,000 cash. Although Union Banks Obum Onya lead the Atlantic Conference stars in scoring with 24 points and 4 rebounds with Victor Anthony of Customs also adding 20 points and 7 rebounds in the famous victory.
Dstv Premier League Final Four MVP Abubakar Usman Lead all scorers on the floor in the game with 28 points and 10 assists on floor despite ending up on the losing side and Mark Mentors Stanley Gumut, the only home based player to star for the Nigerian National Team in the just concluded 2013 Afrobasket in Abidjan scored 15 points adding 5 assists and 7 rebounds for the losing Savannah conference stars. As winners the Atlantic Conference stars went home with a Cash prize of N1,000,000 while the losing side went home with N500,000.
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