Police Beat Customs 70-64 To Stay Atop

Police Baton basketball club bounced back to the top of the Atlantic conference standing of the Nigeria DStv Premier League with a 70-64 points victory over the Nigeria Customs Service basketball club in a mid-week game.

The Police side look shaky at the beginning of the game going down by 13-21 points to the Scott Nnaji tutored Customs side in the frist quarter effort by the Coach Mark Balogun tutored Police Baton to come into the game in the second quarter could only yield a 13 points apiece for both side with Customs going into the break with a 34-26 points advantage.

The Police Baton turned the heat on the third quarter to open up a five points lead with a 28-15 points win in the third quarter and consolidated it hold on the leadership in the fourth quarter which ended by 16-15 points in its favour for a cumulative scores of 70-64 points.

Earlier in the day Union Bank basketball club wade off a stiff challenge from Ebun Comets basketball to escape with a 69-63 points to climb to the third place of the Atlantic conference.

The banker won the first, second and fourth quarter (14-08, 14-12 and 25-20) while the former Nigerian champion (Ebun Comets) picked the third quarter by 23-16 points with Union Bank forward Onyeka Ekpete proving very reliable in the paint grabbing 13 rebounds while compatriots Samson John and Azuoma Dike netting 14 points each.

Comets youthful guard Obum Onyia scored game high of 23 points to lead other players in scoring.

However, Royal Hoopers basketball club of Port Harcourt will this weekend takes its play-offs aspiration to Lagos for a double battle against Ebun Comets and Union Bank basketball club on Saturday and Sunday at the sports hall of the national stadium, Lagos.

The Hoopers had not find things easy at the Lagos centre of the DStv league as it lost the two games it played in its first trip to Lagos last month and Coach Ogoh Odaudu are weary of the task at hand as they are determine to pick a game this time.

The former Ebun Comets and Nigeria international turned coach knows the Comets inside out but with a crafty coach (Ayo Bakare) regarded as the best in local scene the Hoopers might not find things too easy against the youthful Comets side who proved bookmakers wrong last Sunday when they beat Lagos Islanders and almost caused a stir against Union Bank Wednesday.

Other games billed for the weekend in the Atlantic conference include Lagos Islanders taking on Union Bank basketball club on Friday and Nigeria Customs seeking a lifeline against Lagos Islanders on Sunday.

In the Savannah conference, conference leader, Kano Pillars basketball club will be at home to Plateau Peaks with a mindset to consolidate it hold on the conference table on Saturday, Tapgun Rockets who lost at home last week to Yelwa Hawks basketball club of Bauchi will take on fast improved Kada Stars basketball club of Kaduna at the Admadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna while AHIP Giants will try its luck against Plateau Peaks on Sunday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

Mid-week Results in the Savannah conference, Tapgun Rockets 56-59 Yelwa Hawks, Atlantic conference, Union Bank 69-63 Ebun Comets, Police Baton 70-64 Nigeria Customs

Weekend Games

Atlantic Conference:

11/06/10 Lagos Islanders Vs Union Bank Lagos 16H00
12/06/10 Ebun Comets Vs Royal Hoopers Lagos 16H00
13/06/10 Union Bank Vs Royal Hoopers Lagos 16H00
13/06/10 NGR Customs Vs Lagos Islanders Lagos 18H00

Savannah conference:

12/06/10 Kano Pillars Vs Plateau Peaks Kano 17H00
12/06/10 Tapgun Rockets Vs Kada Stars Kaduna 16H00
13/06/10 AHIP Giants Vs Plateau Peaks Kano 17H00