NAN-S-10
Basketball (Wrap Up)
By Babatunde Ogunrinde
Lagos Nov. 28, 2016 (NAN) The Defenders Basketball team, is upbeat over its promotion to the elite DStv Basketball Men’s League, team Coach Monday Puzo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team, owned by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, emerged victorious in the Savannah Conference.
Puzo told the NAN in a telephone interview that the team merited the promotion.
“We worked really hard for this. We are happy to be back to the elite division having lost out in 2012.
“I am delighted we finally got back to the league and this time, we are well equipped to fight with the big boys in the conference and hopefully make the playoffs.
“We believe with the support of the NSCDC management we will attain our goal,’’ Puzo added.
Meanwhile, winners of the Atlantic Conference, Hoops and Read Basketball Club of Lagos have won the National Division One Championship trophy after defeating the Defenders 82-60 in the finals on Sunday.
The team proprietor and former captain of Nigeria’s national team, Olumide Oyedeji, said that the victory attested to his belief in the abundance of talents at the grassroots.
“My target initially was to raise a team of talented players at the grassroots, who also believe in education.
“I remain resolute to this end and will continue to push the players in the right direction, which is acquiring good education and also pursuing their dream of playing professional basketball.”
Femi Adefeso, a sport journalist said “it was a fantastic competition” which unfolded has a pool of untapped wonderful players.
“I urge coaches who in the past complained of lack of quality player to replace the ageing ones with these young and skillful players that abound in Division One,’’ Adefeso said.(NAN)
BAO/DEB/MZA
============
Edited by Debo Oshundun/Maharazu Ahmed