Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League: Air Warriors win 80-24 to quench Adamawa Flames
Warriors
Abuja, Oct. 1, 2019 (NAN) Air Warriors Babes opened their conference phase account in the 2019 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League with an 80-24 thumping of Adamawa Flames of Yola in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Air Warriors, who finished overall tops in the league’s Abuja zonal phases played earlier, were too hot for their opponents right from the game’s opening stage.
By the time the first quarter ended at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Air Warriors had already opened a 22-points gap against a relatively-inexperienced Adamawa Flames to take the quarter 25-3.
It was more of the same in the remaining quarters.
Although team captain Noline Pwavi, Loveth Jackson and Christy David tried to rally their team, their efforts were put down through ferocious counter-attacks by the Warriors.
Olivia Omega, Chinwe Okah and Murjanatu Musa led the Warriors’ onslaught with powerful throws, strong hands and fantastic attacking rebounds respectively.
There was, however, a mild drama at half-time when Adamawa Flames’ Prize Newton lost consciousness after taking an elbow hit.
It took improvised efforts from spectators, coaches and some Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) officials for her to regain consciousness before being taken to a nearby hospital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was no medical personnel on ground to attend to injured players.
While the situation drew an angry reaction from some spectators, an NBBF official however told NAN that each team was supposed to have its own medical personnel.
The coach of Air Warriors, Samson Sotuminu, told NAN after the match that his team’s game benefited from adequate preparation.
“We really prepared well for the league and, once you prepare well for something, you will always get the results,” he said.
Such was the quality in the Warriors team that Sotuminu substituted his entire side in the final quarter.
He however said they were not going to be carried away by Tuesday’s result.
“It was a routine win and my players are well motivated. They understand the ultimate goal and every player works hard to achieve it,” the coach said.
Nidon Danladi, the assistant coach of Adamawa Flames, said his team would keep learning and improving.
“Warriors were too powerful for us. Mind you, this is only our second participation in the league. But we have already surpassed our previous record and we will continue to improve,” he said.
NAN reports that the other opening day fixtures at the Abuja centre of the league’s conference phase will see Black Gold taking on Nigerian Army and Kaduna Angels facing Taraba Hurricanes.
Earlier, the Nigeria Customs team had narrowly defeated Plateau Rocks 53-49.(NAN)
KIA/KOO/OLAL
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(Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa and Olawale Alabi)