Niger Potters of Minna competing in the Savannah Conference of the 2015 Men National Division 1 Basketball League and hosts Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt from the Atlantic League are on the verge of booking the two available slots for qualification to the DSTV Basketball League. After Day Four hostilities, both teams are yet to lose and are good to qualify for the top flight league next season. Both teams will be staging a return after dropping from the elite league seasons ago.
Minna based Potters who look set for a return after three wins and maintaining unbeaten run began their quest on a good note on Sunday by beating AHIP Giants 79-67 points, beat Zamfara Shooters 95-72 and Tuesday morning humbled close rivals Abuja based Defenders 69-58 to brighten their chances of return to the top flight league. Against Defenders who needed to win to have a chance of staying in contention after their shock 81-90 defeat to AHIP Giants of Kano, Potters’ Steve scored 27 points while fellow teammate Omokudu contributed 16 points to ensure victory for the Niger State team. In the first quarter both Potters and Defenders scored 14 points each while Potters won the second and third quarters 14-11 and 21-12 points respectively but Defenders picked the last quarter 21-20 however not enough to give them the needed victory.
Potters coach Ishaq Yayaha speaking after the game which may have given him the edge over Defenders and AHIP Giants, said all he is telling the boys is that they need to concentrate and sustain the tempo because it is not over yet. “We still have obstacles os Benue Braves, Zamfara Shooters and Yobe Desert Warriors and Apa Flames to cross, so all we need to do right now is to sustain our focus and not let the wins get into our heads because we are not there yet. We still have these obstacles to cross before we celebrate that we are through to the DSTV League. So, we have to take the games as they come.”
On whether he has the right kind of players to prosecute the highly tasking and competitive DSTV League, Yahaya said the boys are good enough and ready for the top flight league. “Before those players in the DSTV League became big players they were once like my boys. I believe we the right kind of boys to compete in the DSTV League. Yes they are young but i am confident in the the boys.” He said.
Royal Hoopers on the other hand have continued to dominate the Atlantic Conference with their 115-43 points win over Osun Lions, 72-43 points win over Raptors of Lagos and 67-45 points win over Police Bombers. But will have an obstacle to cross on Thursday against Comets of Lagos who are also unbeaten so far.
