Union Bank Records 3rd Victory In B/Ball League

Union Bank Basketball Club of Lagos recorded its third victory, beating Customs Basketball Club 67-65, in the Week Five fixtures of the ongoing 2011/12 DStv Men’s Basketball League played at the weekend.

Union Bank, 2010/11 First Runner-up of the league, led the first and second quarters of the game by 12-10 and 17-15 respectively, while the third quarter saw the two teams tying 20-20.

Customs claimed the last quarter with just two points 20-18 and that could not help it to record its first victory.

Customs, just promoted back into the league, had not won any of the five matches it had played so far. Union Bank has lost only one of the four matches it had played.

Coach Scott Nnaji of Customs, in an interview with newsmen, blamed his team’s loss on hard luck, saying “I think luck was not on our side at all because my players tried their best.”

Nnaji said the loss of so many free throws also robbed them of their first victory. He also attributed the team’s loss to technical fouls committed by his players.

He, however, expressed optimism of better performance in subsequent matches as the team could not afford to suffer relegation.

Coach Johnson Ayinla of Union Bank expressed delight that the team did not record a second loss.

“I am happy that we narrowly won this match; it was through sheer luck that we were able to win this game as Customs were all out to defeat us,” Ayinla said.

According to him, the team’s technical crew will continue to work on the young players to enable them to maintain the winning streak.

The second match of the day saw Ebun Comets defeating host and city rival, Lagos Islanders, 70-58 to record a second win in five matches they had played so far.

However, Lagos Islanders had recorded two losses in the five matches they had played.