In a thrilling match at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in Ibadan, the Ebun Comets of Lagos clinched a hard-fought victory over the Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan with a final score of 52-48. The 2023 Nigeria Basketball Premier League continues to showcase exciting talent and fierce competition, with this victory marking the second win in three matches for the Ebun Comets following their opening-day loss to the Kwara Falcons on Sunday.
In another gripping match on Match Day 3, the Hoop and Read basketball club of Lagos demonstrated their prowess by defeating the Invaders of Ekiti with a commanding score of 85-60, securing their second victory in three games. The Ibadan Centre of the Atlantic Conference in the league is currently hosting seven formidable clubs, including Impressions of Delta, Ondo Raiders, and Kwara Falcons.
Reflecting on the game, Ayodele Bakare, the coach of the Ebun Comets, shared insights into his team’s performance. He acknowledged that a lack of concentration and match rustiness had a noticeable impact on his young squad’s display, stating, “When you play for just a couple of weeks every year for three or four years, it will always take its toll. But this is still not a good excuse for some of the things that the players are not doing well.”
Bakare emphasised that certain aspects of the game, such as boxing out, are individual player responsibilities that should not be affected by extended breaks. He expressed, “Things like boxing out and others are individual player responsibilities. Teams’ concepts get affected by long layoffs, and these are not the only things we are struggling with.”
Looking ahead to their next match against the Ondo Raiders, Bakare anticipated a challenging encounter. He stressed the importance of mental preparedness and understanding their opponents’ strategies, remarking, “We have to focus on whatever the opposing team’s strategies are and tirelessly execute them. This competition is a marathon and not a sprint.”
He continued, “All teams are fighting to qualify and stay in the Premier League and ensure they are in the top four. So, making the top four is our objective here, and winning enough games to stay in the league is the main goal. When we get to the conference final eight, we can begin to play one game at a time.”
Assistant Coach Kayode Ademulegun of the Invaders shared his thoughts on their performance in the match. He acknowledged that it was a well-fought game and mentioned that they had valuable lessons to draw upon for their upcoming matches.
Ademulegun recognised the strong effort put forth by his players, stating, “While my players gave a good fight, the better side still won the match.” He also identified areas for improvement, noting, “Today (Tuesday) the boys lost many of the free throws, and this affected our overall performance. We will work on our players’ mistakes that we observed today (Tuesday) and ensure that we win our next match.”
The 2023 Nigeria Basketball Premier League promises to continue delivering intense basketball action, with teams striving to secure their positions in the top four and advance in the competition.
