11th FASU Games: Team Nile loses second match to host, Team UNILAG

Posted : 25 September 2024

Team Nile University on Tuesday bowed to the superior firepower of the University of Lagos men's basketball team, as the latter bounced back from their Match Day 2 defeat to beat them 51-46.

The fiercely contested Match Day 3 for the men's basketball event was played at the UNILAG Sports Centre in Akoka.

Watch all NPFL matches here: https://www.africasport.net/livetv/nigeria

It was not a roller coaster win for Team UNILAG, as their opponent, Team Nile University, took the first and second quarters of the game.

Team Nile dominated the first quarter, winning 15-12, while they sustained the lead in the second quarter by outscoring UNILAG by another four points, 28-24.

Team UNILAG rallied back in the last quarter and eventually won the fiercely contested match by five points, gaining their victory from free throws to finish 51-46.

Team UNILAG player Akintoye Duro-Ladipo said that the team was more motivated after having lost the first match on Monday.

"I think coming from yesterday's loss, we knew that we had to win today because we had a chance of making it to the semifinals.

"So I think we all saw that we were going to win. We might still meet this team again; there is a chance we might meet them in the semifinals.

"Our chances of meeting them again mean we have to play the same way again.

"I guess everybody plans to win at the end of the game, but the better team won—that is what I would say," he said.

Another player, Somto Olaker, said he had the mindset to go to the court and create many possibilities.

"At first, we were playing with low spirits in the first quarter, but later we started warming up.

"We could call it overconfidence; everyone on the team was extremely good. So in the beginning, everyone felt the opponent was not as good as them.

"The game was not as good as I wanted it to be, but it was well enough," he said.

Another player, Ahmed Olusoji, said, "I just know the energy we had; we knew the personnel we had, so we couldn't just give up.

"I feel happy about the game anyway. We were exhausted, but we just kept going and didn't want to give up.

"Obviously, we will keep coming with the energy; we are not scared of anyone, so we just take one step after another. Definitely, basketball is a team game, so it is not about one person. We all did it together," he said.

Earlier, Team Nile beat Université Général Lansana Conté (UGLC) Sonfonia Conakry, Guinea, 93-45.

Also, in the second men's basketball event of the day, Team Lagos State University (LASU) Panthers beat Team University of Development Studies Ghana, 57-44.

11th FASU Games: Team Nile loses second match to host, Team UNILAG

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics