Hoops N Read beat Police Baton to win Chief of Defence Unity Basketball Championship

Pius Ayinor

Hoops N Read beat Police Baton late on Sunday to emerge winners of the 4th Chief of Defence Staff Unity Basketball Championship in Lagos. The three-point game ended 55-52 for the Lagos-based team owned by former NBA player Olumide Oyedeji.

A total of 12 teams competed in the event that started on September 30 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium situated just across the road to the Lagos National Stadium.

The match started hours behind the publicized schedule but the intensity made up for the long idle wait at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium. The Policemen had kept an unbeaten run – winning five straight games – before they met Hoops N Read. The winners got to the final with a 4-1 record.

Police Baton, began the first quarter with determination and the first quarter ended at 12-12. The Police began to lose steam in the second quarter to trail 29-20 at the break.

Hoops N’ Read turned up the heat in the third quarter, increasing the gap to 43-29 but the runners up fought hard in the last quarter to cut down the gap to just three points.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Ikenna Okpaluba fired up the champions with 14 points as Taiwo Adedoyin pulled down a game high 10 rebounds to keep Hoops ticking all through the game. Obasohan Sunday shot 15 points for the Police to leave the sports hall as the highest scorer of the night.

Oluyole Warriors defeated Delta Force 68-55 in the third-place match played earlier on.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Armed Forces Nigeria, General Christopher Musa said he was impressed at the level of play exhibited by participating teams.

“It’s noteworthy to mention that within these few days we have witnessed remarkable displays of talent, resilience and excellent teamwork by the various basketball teams.  These unique qualities exhibited without doubt symbolizes our strength, commitment, perseverance and unity which we have as a people and which we actually require to continue building our country.

“The feat we have all witnessed these 5 days was in commemoration of our Independence Day and a reaffirmation of our dearly held self-determination values. It also presented an opportunity to emphasize the role of the good people of Nigeria in shaping the nation’s great future while furthering Nigeria’s national security through a non-kinetic approach.”

The Local Organising Committee chairman, General Aliyu Abdulahi (retd) appreciated all that contributed to the success of the event.

“It has been a long, high intensity week of skillful basket, fun-packed, excitement, friendship-making, individual networking and frenzy. Most importantly, there was no significant injury recorded throughout the event. To the CDS, we cannot thank you enough sir, for all the support to the LOC to make this championship a reality.”