First bank vows to reclaim top spot from 1st Deepwater
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- Written by David Ngobua
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At the end of hostilities at the first phase of the female basketball league which held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, from March 23 to April 2, 1st Deepwater who defeated defending Champions First bank basketball club of Lagos, 63-61 emerged over all winners of the phase and were followed closely by Sunshine Angles of Akura in the second position.
Even as they recorded resounding victories over other opponents, the defending champions of the female league could not beat the eventual winners 1st Deepwater and Sunshine Angles of Akure.
Speaking to Hoops Center, the chief coach of First bank female basketball club, Coach Aderemi Adewunmi said the defeat to 1st Deepwater and Sunshine Angles is a good omen for female basketball in the country.
He said it is a very clear indication that the female league is making serious progress and no team in the league should be taken for granted.
The coach said before now, it would have been practically impossible for a new club like 1st Deepwater to beat his team not to talk of winning the first phase of the league but it has happened and he must congratulate the young team.
He reiterated tha, in as much as he wanted to start on a winning note, his rivals from Lagos played very well and deserved to take the phase.
“I am very happy with what happened in Kano. It is a good omen for female basketball in the country. It means that every club is growing very fast and none should be taken for granted. I never knew that we could lose to 1st Deepwater but now we know it is possible”, he said.
Coach Adewunmi however said the defeat is a temporary set back and a wake up call as his team would surely take the remaining phases to successfully defend its League title.
He said: “We lost by a margin of 2 points to 1st Deepwater which is an indication that we can still retain our title. We still have the second and third phases to go and I can assure you that nothing will stop us from winning the remaining phases”.
The coach said his team will go back to the drawing board and work harder on tactics in order to play better saying the team must improve on its defensive and offensive techniques.
He assured that his young players most of whom have experienced top flight basketball for the first time will not be distracted by the defeats as he said they have shown enough maturity to handle the challenges ahead.
Although he commended the NBBF for introducing younger and new referees during the competition, he observed that most players could not give out their best because of the slippery nature of the basketball court in Kano.
Adewunmi said the girls played cautiously because they did not want to fall and sustain injuries.
The first phase of the Zenith bank Female Basketball League featured nine clubs namely 1st Deepwater, Sunshine Angels, First bank, FCT Angels, Nigeria Immigration, AHIP Queens, Delta Force, Plateau Rocks, Nigeria Customs.
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First bank vows to reclaim top spot from 1st Deepwater
Category: Sports Written by David Ngobua Hits: 519
First bank female basketball team has vowed to reclaim its leadership position of the female basketball League from new girls on the block, 1st Deepwater, describing the loss at the first phase of the 2010 Zenith bank Female Basketball League at Kano as a temporary setback.At the end of hostilities at the first phase of the female basketball league which held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano, from March 23 to April 2, 1st Deepwater who defeated defending Champions First bank basketball club of Lagos, 63-61 emerged over all winners of the phase and were followed closely by Sunshine Angles of Akura in the second position.
Even as they recorded resounding victories over other opponents, the defending champions of the female league could not beat the eventual winners 1st Deepwater and Sunshine Angles of Akure.
Speaking to Hoops Center, the chief coach of First bank female basketball club, Coach Aderemi Adewunmi said the defeat to 1st Deepwater and Sunshine Angles is a good omen for female basketball in the country.
He said it is a very clear indication that the female league is making serious progress and no team in the league should be taken for granted.
The coach said before now, it would have been practically impossible for a new club like 1st Deepwater to beat his team not to talk of winning the first phase of the league but it has happened and he must congratulate the young team.
He reiterated tha, in as much as he wanted to start on a winning note, his rivals from Lagos played very well and deserved to take the phase.
“I am very happy with what happened in Kano. It is a good omen for female basketball in the country. It means that every club is growing very fast and none should be taken for granted. I never knew that we could lose to 1st Deepwater but now we know it is possible”, he said.
Coach Adewunmi however said the defeat is a temporary set back and a wake up call as his team would surely take the remaining phases to successfully defend its League title.
He said: “We lost by a margin of 2 points to 1st Deepwater which is an indication that we can still retain our title. We still have the second and third phases to go and I can assure you that nothing will stop us from winning the remaining phases”.
The coach said his team will go back to the drawing board and work harder on tactics in order to play better saying the team must improve on its defensive and offensive techniques.
He assured that his young players most of whom have experienced top flight basketball for the first time will not be distracted by the defeats as he said they have shown enough maturity to handle the challenges ahead.
Although he commended the NBBF for introducing younger and new referees during the competition, he observed that most players could not give out their best because of the slippery nature of the basketball court in Kano.
Adewunmi said the girls played cautiously because they did not want to fall and sustain injuries.
The first phase of the Zenith bank Female Basketball League featured nine clubs namely 1st Deepwater, Sunshine Angels, First bank, FCT Angels, Nigeria Immigration, AHIP Queens, Delta Force, Plateau Rocks, Nigeria Customs.