Mark ‘D’ Ball: Nigeria Customs edge Kwara Falcons to emerge group winners

  Mark ‘D’ Ball: Nigeria Customs edge Kwara Falcons to emerge group winners   Basketball   By Victor Okoye   Abuja, Feb. 27, 2022 (NAN) Nigeria Customs on Saturday edged Kwara Falcons of Ilorin 80-77 to emerge group two winners of the 2022 Mark ‘D’ Ball Men’s Basketball championship in Abuja.   The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result meant that Nigeria Customs who won a total of six games out of seven, topped the eight-team Phase 1, Group 2 table with 13 points.   The final game of the group which started out as a ding-dong affair saw Nigeria Customs and Kwara Falcons slugging it out in a nervy battle for supremacy.   This was after table-toppers FCT Hardrockers with 11 points had relinquished top spot when they narrowly lost their game 58-59 to Plateau Peaks at the end of a tough contest.   This set the pace for the final game of Matchday seven which Nigeria Customs and Kwara Falcons who were also both tied on 11 points, lock horns in a winners-take- it-all battle at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium.   But it was the more experienced Nigeria Customs clubside who showed that they were ready for the battle when they won the first quarter with a three-point difference (16-13).   They extended their lead by five points in the second quarter taking it 22-20 for a 38-33 scoreline.   Kwara Falcons had their work cut out for them as they rallied in the last two quarters, as they tried to narrow the gap, taking it 19-18, 25-24.   However, any thoughts of a comeback were put to rest in the final seconds of the fourth quarter as Customs held on to nick the game by just three points for a 80-77 scoreline at the end of a pulsating encounter.   The Ilorin-based clubside with 12 points had to settle for third spot behind FCT Hardrockers who also finished with 12 points, by virtue of the latter’s head-to-head superiority.   NAN also reports that other results of Matchday seven saw Suleja Bulldogs defeat Warri-based CAMAC 87-71 to claim the fourth spot with 11 points.   NSCDC’s Civil Defenders with 10 points settled for the fifth position after outdunking Niger Potters 70-61 to edge Plateau Peaks who also finished with 10 points by virtue of the former’s head-to-head superiority.   The Jos-based side had to settle for the sixth position and would now have to wait to see if they stand a chance of making it to the round of 16 as best losers after winning three out of seven games with a goal difference of – 6.   CAMAC (-71) and Niger Potters (-130) with eight points finished seventh and eight respectively after managing to win only one game each and have thus been automatically eliminated from the competition.   The three-month long championship which resumed on Sunday with the Phase 1, Group two round of games ended on Saturday.   NAN also reports that the championship will resume on Friday with Phase 1, Group 3 round of matches to determine the final qualified teams.   Five teams each are expected to qualify from each of the three (eight-team) groups for the Round of 16, with the best loser completing the   Mo’ Heat, Gombe Bulls, Hot Coal Ballers, Nile University Spartans and APA Flames have already qualified from Phase 1 Group 1.   They are now joined by Nigeria Customs, FCT Hardrockers, Kwara Falcons, Suleja Bulldogs and Civil Defenders who are the qualified teams from Phase 1 Group 2.   Phase 1 Group 2 standings after matchday seven   S/N TEAM P W L GF GA PTS GD 1. Nigeria Customs 7 6 1 589 491 13 +98 2. FCT Hardrockers 7 5 2 551 468 12 +83 3. Kwara Falcons 7 5 2 512 445 12 +67 4. Suleja Bulldogs 7 3 3 495 525 11 – 30 5. Civil Defenders 7 2 4 448 476 10 -28 6. Plateau Peaks 7 2 4 468 474 10 -6 7. CAMAC 7 1 6 471 542 8 -71 8. Niger Potters 7 1 6 428 549 8 -130 (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)