17th May, 2010
With the conclusion of the second phase of the Zenith Bank/NBBF Women League in Asaba last weekend, the defending champions, First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos are back on the summit, beating all the clubs.
The Aderemi ‘Owolo’ Adewunmi-tutored side overcame their earlier setback in the first phase, where they lost two games to city rivals, First Deepwater Basketball Club and Sunshine Angels Basketball Club, to finish third in Kano.
First Bank, First Deepwater and Sunshine Angel Basketball Clubs have all lost two games apiece and are occupying the first, second and third spots on the league table.
The Elephants Girls, as the team are called, finished first ahead of first phase winners, First Deepwater and Sunshine Angels that retained their third place on the log. With these latest results from Asaba, the battle for which club would win the league this season cannot be determined until after the final phase which comes up in Lagos in a few weeks time.
Unlike the previous season, First Bank would have won the league before the first jump-ball of the final phase. However, First Deepwater captain, Julie Onyelugo, has stated that nothing will stand between her team and its title ambition this season. The soft spoken smallish forward told Basketball Timeout that the team will approach all their remaining games this season with determination and seriousness as there are no more pushovers in the league.
“Gone are the days when the league title is ascribed to a particular team before the first jump-ball but all that has changed as all teams now compete on equal level and strength. Our aim is to reward our management and fans with the league diadem this year and we are committed to achieving it,†she concluded.