Nigerian basketball giants, Kano Pillars and Gombe Bulls, got off to a flying start in the ongoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Day Basketball Championship with resounding victories in the Matchday One fixtures played on Thursday in Abuja.
Kano Pillars showed class as they dominated Niger Potters with 57-40 points while Gombe Bulls laboured to a 65-61 victory over Sulejah in an exciting encounter.
In other Day one matches, Bauchi Nets and Gilali produced a closely contested match, with Gilali emerging victorious with 66-50 points.
Plateau Rocks also secured a solid win against Kada Stars with 63-55, while City Chiefs and Rivers Hoopers also delivered an exciting match with the more experienced Hoopers prevailing 51-46.
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Civil Defence displayed a strong performance against Novena, securing a convincing 80-56 victory.
Mark Town Flyers also soared to an impressive victory with a score of 83-64.
The Armed Forces Team faced a tough challenge from the Hard Rockers, ultimately falling short with a score of 49-66.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, reaffirmed the military’s commitment to promoting sports, particularly basketball, as a means of fostering unity and peace in society.
He also emphasised the importance of sports as a non-kinetic approach to promoting peace and engaging the youths.
“Apart from health benefits, sports unites. Sports is also one of our non-kinetic efforts to ensure peace in the society. As you know, we in the military are using sports to engage the youths.
“The choice of basketball is because we have so many talents in the sport, and the military will continue to support the sport,” he stated.
16 top basketball clubs are taking part in the money spinning tournament organised by the CDS in commemoration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence.
The teams are Kada Stars, Kano Pillars, Gombe Bulls, Niger Porters, Kwara Falcons, Dodan Warriors, Civil Defence and FCT Hard Rockers.
Others are Novena, Heartlanders, City Chiefs, Marktown Flyers, Gilali, Rivers Hoopers, Armed Forces, Bauchi Nets and Nigerian Customs.
Winners of the well- attended tournament would take home N4m, runners up N2.5m while N1.5m cash prize would go to the third place team.
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