Zenith Bank Women Basketball League: IGP Queens in dramatic sixth win

ILORIN – The IGP Queens basketball club of Lagos on Friday came from behind twice to win their last match in the second phase of the 2013/2014 Zenith Bank Women Basketball League.
In the match played in Ilorin, the club beat Delta Force of Asaba 59-55 to record their sixth win in seven matches in the competition’s Group A.
In the first quarter of the match at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Kwara State Stadium, the eventual winners trailed Delta Force 13-17.
But they came back into the match in the second quarter, scoring 14 points for them to go into the game break leading 27-23.
The Police team soon lost their four-point lead to trail 41-42 at the end of the third quarter.
But Delta Force could not sustain their lead in the fourth quarter, from which they garnered only 13 points while the IGP Queens had 18 points.
The IGP Queens only loss in the league’s second phase which ended Friday was 33-60 to the league defending champions, First Deepwater of Lagos, on Matchday Five.
The IGP Queens’ coach, Abraham Ogaba, told NAN after their win over Delta Force that his team was plagued with injuries and this had affected their performance.
“Normally, this match should not be as difficult as it is. But when you are playing a league, particularly in a game of basketball, you are likely to have injuries.
“There are a lot of injuries within my team and most of the players played below their abilities.
“So, that is the major challenge we had in the course of the game.
“And, having known that we have qualified for the final eight play-offs in Lagos, we didn’t want them to over-stretch themselves,’’ Ogaba said.
On his part, the Delta Force coach, Benson Aikoroje, commended his players for their performance and fighting spirit.
In other matches played in Group A on Friday, Oluyole Babes lost 43-61 to GT 2000, while Nigerian Immigration thrashed Taraba Hurricanes 65-27.
In Group B, Plateau Rocks whip Coal City 62-29 and Benue Queens beat Ahip Queens 48-40.
The second phase of the league which ended Friday started on Friday, May 2 with 16 teams.
Four teams each from Group A and Group B will qualify for the final eight play-offs in Lagos in June.(NAN)