ILORIN – Three forfeitures were recorded on Friday on Day One of the second phase of the 2014 Zenith Bank National Female Basketball League in Ilorin.
Ajibarede Bello, a Technical Commissioner with the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), confirmed the development said the games were not played and were thus awarded to the teams on ground.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the IGP Queens failed to turn up for their game against Nigeria Immigration in Group A.
“First Bank also walked over Coal City Queens, while the Benue Queens have not arrived for the league, thus making their game against Nigeria Customs to be unplayed,’’ Bello said.
The NBBF official said it was a fact that some of the teams for the competition were yet to arrive.
“But because of the tight schedule of the event, we have to walk them over,’’ he said.
Bello however said there was still room for the teams to participate if they arrived for the competition on Saturday, May 3, since the event is a league competition.
“If they come tomorrow, they are still in the competition because it is a league. Each team has about seven games to play,” he said.
The NBBF official however described Day One of the competition as a success, saying officiating had really improved.
“The standard is high, the ladies are up and doing, and there is tremendous improvement in the coaching aspect of the game too” he said.
In games played in Group A, Sunshine defeated GT 2000 63-38 while defending champions First Deepwater of Lagos won 62-44 against Delta Force.
The only game played in Group B saw Dolphins beat Ahip Queens 88-32.
On Saturday, May 3, Delta Force will engage Taraba Hurricanes in Group A in the first game, GT 2000 face First Deepwater, Oluyole Babes meet IGP Queens, and Immigration against Sunshine.
In Group B, Ahip Queens face Coal City, Benue Queens take on FCT Angels, while First Bank and Nigeria Customs battle it out in the afternoon.
The last game in Group B on Day Two will be between Plateau and Dolphins.(NAN)
