In a thrilling showdown on Saturday, Nigeria Customs Men Basketball Club of Abuja secured the Savannah Conference title by defeating Gboko City Chiefs 83-78 in the Nigerian Basketball Federation’s (NBBF) Premier Basketball Men’s Final Eight Championships.
Having won all five previous matches, Nigeria Customs entered the game with confidence, while Gboko City Chiefs had a record of four victories and one defeat. The match unfolded as a closely contested battle, with Nigeria Customs extending their winning streak to six games.
Despite an early lead by Gboko City Chiefs in the first quarter, Nigeria Customs rallied back and finished the quarter ahead at 19-17. The Customs maintained their dominance in the second quarter with a score of 40-35. Although trailing 43-48 at the close of the third quarter, Nigeria Customs surged ahead in the final stretch, securing the victory at 83-78.
Coach Mohammed Abdulrahman expressed his team’s satisfaction, emphasising their aim to secure tickets for the Basketball African League (BAL): “It’s exciting to win all six games consecutively without a defeat, but our ultimate goal is BAL tickets. We shoot the ball well and play good defence, and that was what gave us the win today.”
Gboko City Chiefs’ Coach Fanen Iornem acknowledged the team’s qualification for the final four despite the loss, stating, “Our target is to pick the tickets for BAL. We are not afraid of any team; we are going to reboot.”
In other matches, Gombe Bulls secured a narrow victory over Correctional Services with a score of 70-67, while Nile University triumphed over Plateau Peaks with a convincing 68-50 win. The tournament’s final four is scheduled from Nov. 19 to 26, with the winner earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the BAL in Kigali, Rwanda.
