A new champion has emerged in the Nigeria domestic women league as First Deepwater basketball club rose to the occasion and stop the dominance of First Bank basketball club in the grand finale of the 6th edition of the Zenith Bank Women Premier League in Lagos Saturday night.
The First Deepwater ladies dominated the game from the first quarter resulting in a 24-09 points win for the Coaches Lateef Erinfolami and Shola Ogunade tutored Oil and Gas ladies who showed great determination to carry the day as they continue the onslaught in the second quarter though they dropped the quarter to the former champion by 20-14 points but they held on to the lead with a 38-29 points advantage going into the break.
The Coach Erinfolami side further widen the margin between them and the reigning Africa champion when they took the third quarter with the duo of Nkechi Akashili and Ijeoma Uchendu marshalling the First Deepwater offense and defense by 12-09 points and returned to win the fourth quarter by 16-11 points to end First Bank dominance of the Nigeria women league which span close to ten years with a 66-49 points victory.
Uchendu who was later adjudge the league best rebounder led the floor with a double double figure of 22 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals while Akashili who emerged as the league Most Valuable Player (MVP) displacing First Bank guard Funmilayo Ojelabi also had a double double of 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists with forward Kelechi Obasi contributing 13 points and 7 rebounds.
First Deepwater led the Coaches Adewumi Aderemi and Christopher Acha tutored First Bank in all department of the game watched by a capacity crowd as the Oil and Gas ladies grabbed a total of 47 rebounds (offense and defense) to First Bank 39, First Deepwater players gave a total of 18 assists as against First Bank 10 while they turned the ball over fifteen times against First Bank 20 turn-over.
First Deepwater Head Coach, Erinfolami attributed his side hard earned victory to dedication and total commitment on the part of the players and management of the modest side who storm the Nigeria scene in December 2008 and is only seasons in the Nigeria domestic league.
Coach Erinfolami who is winning a major title in the local scene since turning coach after a fruitful playing career says it is First Deepwater basketball club turn to dictate the pace in the Nigeria league and make appreciable impact in Africa and World club competitions.
We are not going to let our winning the Zenith Bank league title become a stumbling block to us rather we shall continue to build on this great achievement.
I want to dedicate the victory to the players for their dedication and commitment and the club management for always giving us words of encouragement even in the face of seen and unseen conspiracy against us especially by those whom we thought are our friends but we thank God for making it possible by crowning our effort by resounding success.
President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, Tijjani Umar praised all the ten teams that took part of the league right from the first phase in Kano earlier in the year.
He charged them to put in more effort so as to guarantee good competition.
Representative of the sponsor, Mrs. Bukky Latunji who stood in for the Deputy Managing Director of the foremost financial institution pledge Zenith Bank commitment to the enlistment of the girl-child through positive engagement like basketball.
The Zenith Bank Plc top shot gave a hint of the continued sponsorship of the Zenith Bank Women Premier League but says details will be worked out between the bank and the NBBF.
Also on hand to for the grand finale is the former president of the NBBF between 1990 and 2001, Senator Usman K. Umar (MNI) and Hon. (Engr.) Mohammed Ali Wudil who is a member of the House Committee on Sports.
Delta Force basketball club dependable player, Ogor Bulum won the highest scorers award with all three individual award-winner going home with a plaque from the NBBF and a laptop each from the sponsor Zenith bank Plc
