Defending champions, Kano Pillars have won the Kwese Premier League Savannah Conference Six play-off s to edge closer to retaining their trophy in the Final 8 at the Sani Abacha Stadium Kano next month. Kano Pillars won all their fi ve matches to end the championship held inside the Indoor Sports Hall of the Murtala Square Kaduna between August 14- 19 with one hundred per cent record fi nish.
Th e tournament features six teams from the Savannah Conference; Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls, Plateau Peaks, Niger Potters, Bauchi Net and Kada Stars. Bauchi Net and Kada Stars replaced Mark Mentors and Defenders both of Abuja who failed to turn up for the competition. Pillars beat hard fi ghting Gombe Bulls 104-97 points in their fi rst game, whipped Kada Stars 91-58 points, mauled Bauchi Net 85-44 points, defeated Niger Potters 103- 71 points and routed Plateau Peaks 80-64 points to emerge champions of the conference with an unbeaten run. Coach of the Kano based team, Sani Ahmed, reiterated his club’s desire to retain the trophy after the Final 8 in Kano.
“Winning the Savanna Conference Six shows the level of consistency in the club. It also tells of the amount of hard work put in by the players to winning tournaments.” Th e coach also disclosed that the Conference play-off s was part of preparations for his team’s participation in an invitational tournament slated in Malaysia in the fi rst week of September.
“Immediately we conclude the play-off s and Final 8 we shall be honoring a fully sponsored trip to Malaysia for an invitational tournament involving teams from Japan, China, Malaysia and teams from other Asian countries. Good enough we will be prepared because this championship serves as good preparations for the tournament.” Meanwhile Rivers Hoopers also continued their impressive run in the Atlantic Conference six play-off s defeating Police Baton 80-63 points on Saturday in Ilorin. Ikechukwu Benjamin scored a game high 19 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists, Emmanuel Balogun added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists while Solomon Ajegbeyi made 14 points and 3 assists. Benjamin’s double-double was his fi rst of the 2017 Kwese Premier Basketball League Season. Th e former Lagos Warriors guard who had a more quiet game in three previous games, was in spectacular fashion causing Police Baton problems whenever he was on court. He made 5 / 9 of his shot from the 3 point line against a police team who were battling for their fi rst win in the Conference playoff s. Prior to the last games of the Conference six playoff s played yesterday, Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu expressed his desire to emerge champion. “We are confi dent of winning the game because that was our aim coming for the playoff s. We want to come out top of the Conference,” he said. “Th e game against Police Baton was a bit of a struggle. We struggled in the fi rst half but turn things around in the third quarter.” Kwara Falcons, Rivers Hoopers, Hoops & Read and Nigeria Customs have all qualifi ed for the fi nal 8 from the Atlantic Conference. While Kano Pillars, Niger Potters, Gombe Bulls and Plateau Peaks complete the list from the Savannah Conference. Th e Final 8 in Kano will see four teams each from the Atlantic and Savannah Conferences battle for the ultimate prize to climax the Kwese Premier League Season.
