First Bank, Dolphins, AHIP win opening games

Defending Champions, First Bank Basketball Club, Dolphins and AHIP won their opening games in the second phase of the Zenith Bank Women Basketball League, which began yesterday at the sports hall of the Ilorin Stadium.

The defending champions defeated Oluyole Babes 67-23; Dolphins defeated IGP Queen 63-26, while AHIP beat Immigration 43-17.

First Bank girls could have scored more points if they took the chances that came their way. The team will hope to consolidate when they take on Sunshine Angels this week.

Some of the First Bank players, who were in the D’Tigress team that defeated Cote d’Ivoire to qualify Nigeria for the Afrobasket and All Africa Games, did not play against Oluyole Babes. The players would be in the line up against Sunshine.

Assistant coach of First Bank Basketball, Taye Adeniyi, told The Guardian that the victory was a good start for the girls and assured that the players would do better against Sunshine.

“I am happy that we won. The players gave a good account of themselves and I am sure they will get better as the competition progresses.”  Adeniyi, who declared that the girls were used to the court, expressed optimism that his side would win the league. “We didn’t train on the court before our opening game so the game against Oluyole was a little bit difficult.

However, the players will do better in their next game now that they understand the court. The fans can be assured of fantastic display from the Elephant Girls,” he said.