Sports
DStv Basketball Playoffs: Mark Mentors Beat Pillars To Win Trophy
Mark Mentors Basket
ball Club of Abuja emerged the national champions of the 2015 DStv Premier League Basketball season after an impressive performance to unseat the defending champions Kano Pillars, 79-66.
Mark Mentors, who had lost to Kano Pillars in the finals of the 2014 edition, played with a lot of determination to to rattle the former champions.
The new champions took the first and second quarters, 25-16 points and 41-33 points and undoubtedly showed better skills and understanding to end the first half in their favour.
Mark Mentors Abdul Yahaya, Stanley Gumut, Victor Koko and Moses Daudu exceptional performances ensured that Kano Pillars never had a chance to play their kind of game.
The quartet scored 24, 13, 16 and 10 respectively to claim the championship trophy for the first time in their four years of existence.
An elated Abdul Yahaya told newsmen after the match that it feels great to be champions and achieved it through hard work.
‘’We had our game plans and all we needed to do was keep our focus and continue the way we began.
‘’We did not play with pressure, we were confident from the onset that we were going to achieve this and we are happy to do that in the end.
‘’The next thing for us is to prepare well for a successful outing in the continental championship,’’ Yahaya said
Yahaya received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his role in emergence Mark Mentors as championship.
Kano Pillar’s forward player, Abubakar Usman, however expressed disappointment over their defeat by Mark Mentors and blamed it on poor preparations.
‘’We were not well prepared for the championship; the way we played all through was very obvious that something was just not right.
‘’We struggled in all the games we played and we are lucky to even reach the final, indeed it is a big lesson for us,’’ Usman said.
Both teams automatically qualify to represent the country in the Afrobasket Continental Club Championship coming up later in the year.
Meanwhile in the third place match, Gombe Bulls beat Union Bank Basketball Club of Lagos, 63-53 to win the third place trophy.
Dodan Warriors of Lagos, Kada Stars of Kaduna, Nigeria Customs of Lagos and Lagos Islanders came fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth in the classification matches.
The final eight championship playoffs was played at the National stadium, Lagos.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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