ABUJA – Hoops and Read Basketball team of Lagos on Friday defeated the Base Hawks 60-51 at the ongoing National Men’s Basketball Division One Championship in Abuja .
It is the third win for the Hoops and Read side after beating O.S Lions 65-42 and crushing T. Joba Talents 75-641, while losing to Delta Force 44-58 in their previous matches.
In Friday’s game, Base Hawks lead in the first quarter by 23-8 before Hoops and Read took control in the remaining quarters by 18-9 in the second, the third 14-9 and the last 34-19.
At the end of the match, Olumide Oyedeji, coach of Hoops and Read was in jubilant mood after the match, praising his players and expressing optimism that they would keep up the momentum.
“It was a very good game and a though one, the base were playing with experience,
“This is third win out of the fourth game we played, I will work my team to secure a win in tomorrow’s game,” he said
On his part, Leo Kareem, coach of Base Hawks, said “it was a tough game, unfortunately we lost.
“It was a good game; the god of soccer was against us because we missed a lot of shots and throws.
“This is our fourth game, we only won one, we will work harder to win our last game tomorrow.’’
The Base Hawks had beaten Raptors of Lagos 55-44 on Thursday and lost two games against T. Joba Talents 65-69 and 48-57 to Delta Force.
In other matches at the championship on Friday, Civil Defence beat Dashion Mambas 85-7, O.S Lion defeat Delta Force with one point 84-83.
Benue Braves trashed APA Flames 65-55, while Kano Pyramid defeated FCT Rocks 74-70.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 12 teams from both the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences are participating in the championship.
FCT Rocks, APA Flames, Civil Defence, Dashion Mambas, Benue Braves and Kano Pyramids are from the Savannah Conference.
Delta Force, Base Hawks, O.S Lion, Raptors, Hoops and Read, and T. Joba Talents are in the Atlantic Conference.
The top team from each conference will be promoted to the 2015 DSTV Premier League.
The championship, which ends on Nov. 9, is holding at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Abuja National Stadium, and is being organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). (NAN)
