22nd June, 2011
Kada Stars of Kaduna recorded the first upset at the ongoing DSTV Basketball final Eight play-off at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium Surulere Lagos yesterday.
The Kaduna-based team outdunked coach Ayo Bakare- tutored Comets 57-55 points in the second game of the Championship.
The thrilling Group B game of the Top 8 playoff, saw Kada Stars outdunking the Lagos- based Comets in the first, third and fourth quarters with 15-11,22-15 and 12-10 points respectively, but lost the second quarter 8-19.
Speaking after the game, an elated Kada Stars coach, Sani Turi expressed joy over his team’s first victory at the tourney, especially coming against a more experienced Comets side.
“We are happy to come out victorious in the match. It’s like we have won the championship because nobody gave us the chance before the game. But, our team are made up of rookies and have worked really hard and at the end, our hard work paid off,†Turi said.
Turi also cautioned other teams to expect more upsets from his team, as the tourney progresses.
“We are not resting on our oars, my players are charged and our mission is to win a ticket to the continent†he said, emphasizing: “When we get to the the final, we will be satisfied.â€
Basketball fans that trooped to the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, to watch the tourney were treated to free meals and drinks, courtesy of Honeywell and Powerhorse; who identified with the Championship.
The Chairman, Local Organising Committee, Babs Ogunade, who is also the boss of Lagos State Basketball Association, said all arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth tourney.
ticipating teams and fans are adequately secured and have a memorable Championship.he said.
Director of Sports in the Council, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, disclosed that all the allowances of the athletes for the open camping have been fully paid, while effort is being made to offset the ones for the closed camping.
“The athletes are in high spirit for the competiton and they are doing well in the camp,†he said.
Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola, who is playing an advisory role in the preparation of the athletes, said the camping is well coordinated to ensure a good performance of the athletes at the Sports Festival.
Meanwhile, athletes who represented Lagos State at the KADA 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna will received monetary rewards from Governor Fashola tomorrow. The event holds at the Rowe Park by 10a.m.
Gold medallist will receive N100,000, silver medal winner, N75,000, Bronze medallist will get N50,000, while athletes who did not will any medal will get N20,000 for their participation.
—Bamidele Olowosagba