By Ado Salisu
Kano Pillars basketball team has defeated highly rated Aso Sky of Abuja 84-81 points in the ongoing Nigerian Premier League Basketball Second Phase Championship in Minna centre, the capital city of Niger State.
The Pyramids City Boys had earlier won five matches against Niger Potters of Minna, Gombe Bull, Bauchi Nets, City Chiefs of Benue and Aso Sky Hawks of Abuja but lost only one match against Nile University of Abuja.
With this victory, Kano Pillars have automatically qualified to play in the final 8 where the top four teams in the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences would meet to determine the winners who will represent the country in the FIBA Zone 3 qualifiers scheduled to hold later in the year.
Speaking shortly after their victory, the secretary of Kano Pillars basketball team, Bashir Musa described the win as a token gift to welcome the newly constituted board of the state Sports Commission under the leadership of Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Babangida and his members.
Bashir Musa said that the players put their financial challenge behind to ensuring the Pyramids side continued to sustain the impressive outing in the championship.
The tournament is organized by the Nigerian Basketball Federation, NBBF, Premier League Basketball Second Phase currently taking place at two centres – Minna and Enugu.
While expressing gratitude to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his commitment and concerns for the team, he called on the players to continue to redouble efforts aimed at actualising the set objectives.
Kano Pillars, on Friday, recorded a major upset, losing to 313 Warriors 90-66 points. The dominant result served as a major upset, ending Kano Pillars’ long-standing dominance in the Savannah Conference.
