NIPOGA 2017: Bida defeat Oko Poly 3-0, book volleyball male final berth
NAN-S-2
Volleyball
Nasarawa (Nasarawa State), May 2, 2017 (NAN) Bida Polytechnic on Tuesday defeated Okoye Polytechnic, in three straight sets, to book final berth in Volleyball at the ongoing Nigeria Polytechnics Games (NIPOGA) in Nasarawa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 19th edition of the games, which kicked off at the Nasarawa Federal Polytechnic on April 29 is expected to end on May 6.
Bida Poly came into the semifinals having emerged winners of Group B, which comprised of Kazaure, Imo and Offa Polytechnics.
The Group B winners were ruthless as they won all three of their group games beating IMT 3-2, Kazaure 3-1 and Offa Poly 3-0 respectively.
Their opponents, Oko Poly however finished as Runners up of Group A which comprised Group winners, Kaduna and Esa-Oke respectively.
Oko walked over Esa-Oke, who had no representation for the event, but were beating in three straight sets by Kaduna Poly.
It was an uphill task for the Easterners against an in-form Bida team in the semifinals.
The duo of Bala Bako, the team’s setter and Emmanuel Osondu, the hitman combined well on several ocassions to keep their opponents on the back foot.
Bako’s precise passes met well timed hits by Osondu as their opponents’ defence found it hard to cope with the barrage of spikes from the tall, lanky striker.
Oko, however, put in some good combinations of their own as the likes of Uzochukwu Nwachukwu, Emmanuel Okeke scored some lovely points to keep pace with Bida.
But, it was however not enough as Bida won 3-0 to book a final berth against Kaduna Polytechnic, who had also earlier thrashed Group B runners. up, Imo State Poly in three straight sets.
Coach Yusuf Alfa told NAN after the match that his team were more tactically and technically sound, adding however, that their opponents were no pushovers.
“We knew our opponents’ strength and had to mark their key men who were very good spikers.
“Good defence and counter-attacks were key to our victory,” he said.
He noted that his team would be up against another very strong test in Kaduna Polytechnic.
“We will now go back to the drawing board to work on capitalising on their weakness; they are deficient in short attacks,” he said. (NAN)
VO/YAZ
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