21 November 2008
Union Bank Basketball Club of Nigeria, the just concluded host of the FIBA Africa Club Champion-ship Zone 3 qualifiers, narrowly lost the opportunity to finish in the number one position of the tournament, as they lost gallan-tly to fellow Nigerian team Kano Pillars.
The final classification match, between the two Nigerian teams was a repeat of the final game of the Super Eight competition which determined Nigerian cham-pions. In the match Pillars won to emerge 2008 national champions.
In the final classification match of the FIBA Africa Club qualifiers, Union Bank which started well in the first quarter, slipped 20-21at the buzzer.
They again came up very strongly in the second quarter, but failed to maintain dominance as Pillars again won 43-4.The third quarter was not different, as the Kano boys led by four points at 60-56.
In the fourth quarter, Union Bank which paraded young pla-yers, tried their best in ensuring that they closed the gap.
Though this was achieved, but they soon lost concentra-tion and the bench did not help matters as team coach Ayinla left some highly physical players on the court. These players com-mitted endless fouls which gave Pillars the leverage to widen the score line converting free throws upon free throws.
It was this technical lopsided-ness which gave Pillars victory and not that they outplayed Union Bank team man for man.
The final scores stood at 87-76, advantage Kano Pillars who topped as Zone 3 Champions, while Union Bank Basketball finished second best.
The Corporate Affairs Mana-ger, Union Bank PLC Mr Francis Barde who represented the Ma-naging Director Bartholomew Ebong at the finals played at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Natio-nal Stadium, Lagos, was on hand to present Kano Pillars the winner's trophy.
Barde came with some plea-sant messages from the Mana-ging Director of the biggest bank in Nigeria, saying Ebong expressed his delight on the bank's ability to successfully host the FIBA Africa Zone 3 qualifiers.
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