LAGOS – Stanley Gumut, Captain of the selected Savannah Conference Basketball Team on Sunday described their 66-45 victory over their Atlantic Conference counterparts as well deserved.
According to him, the win was executed through determination.
Gumut told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after their All-Stars DStv Basketball League match in Lagos on Saturday, at the University of Lagos (Unilag) Sports Hall, that the victory was like avenging the loss to the Atlantic Conference in the last edition.
“We played well and we deserved the victory. The Savannah Conference can categorically boast of better players in the ongoing season.
“We lost narrowly to the Atlantic Conference in the 2012/2013 edition and we had to retaliate this season, we are proud of our achievement.
“It is a testament of our superiority in the ongoing season and I am happy we will return to the North with our heads up high’’.
Abubakar Usman of the Savannah, who received an award of the Most Valuable Player, told NAN that the eventual 2013/2014 champion would come for the Savannah Conference.
“A lot has been said about the Savannah that It has been dominated by Kano Pillars and that the competition is not tough enough in the conference. This is not the position.
“As a player with Pillars, I know what we face every week that we engage our opponents. It is indeed a well-contested conference.
“We at Pillars simply have that edge over others because we have been together for quite some time and know each other well,’’ Usman said.
Tijani Umar, the President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF), said the selected players were the best the league could offer.
“I am delighted about the match; it is worthwhile. It has been an opportunity for the two conferences to meet and play during the half season.
“In the future, we intend to take this match to other cities that feature in the DStv league.
“The players have displayed good sportsmanship and I can confidently say that it is a big success,’’ Umar added.
NAN reports that the All Stars match also featured a selected side of television personalities and musicians in a celebrity match.
The match was held at the Unilag Hall, Akoka. (NAN)
