First Bank in Ruthless Start as Air Warriors Crumble in Savannah

First Bank Basketball team yesterday in Akure defeated the IGP Queens in ruthless manner to show an intent to regain the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball crown which they lost the last time it was held in Lagos.

The Lagos-based outfit defeated IGP Queens with a 50-point margin with a score of 80-30 to the surprise of fans of the game in the Atlantic Conference venue.

Bayelsa Whales also defeated host team, Sunshine Angels, 61-44 in the opening match of the Atlantic Conference. MFM and Dolphins are the other teams in the zone where two finalists will eventually emerge for the finals billed for October.

Meanwhile, Air Warriors of Abuja in the Day Two of the Savannah Conference were defeated 64-48 by the Nigeria Customs in a high tempo encounter which kept spectators t the edge of their seats in Jos.

This was after the Warriors on Tuesday began their defence of the Zenith Bank Women’s League on a bright note with a 66-48 victory recorded against the Nigerian Army.

In a match decided in Jos, which is the Savanah Conference Centre of the ongoing league, Air Warriors had a light work out against the women Army team with 18 points difference.

It was a highly interesting encounter as the Air Warriors team even without Marjinatu Musa, who is now with First Bank, displayed so much guts and artistry to win the encounter. 

Musa was at the AfroBasket Championship in Rwanda last month where Nigeria won her 4th straight title in a row.

Also in the Savanah Conference, Plateau Rocks defeated Nasarawa Amazons 63-44 just as Nigeria Customs whip Kada Angels 73-32.

Key games are expected to take place in both the Atlantic and Savanah zones today as teams struggle to jostle for the four tickets available for the final battle in Lagos.