After booking second consecutive ticket to the FIBA-Africa Club Championship, Gombe Bulls defeated Kwara Falcons 81-72 to clinch the 2018 Kwese Premier Basketball League title.
The match, which was played at the Indoor sports hall of the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, was watched
by a sizeable basketball enthusiasts and administrators.
Ibe Agu of Gombe Bulls, amassed 23 points and 2 rebound to help the Savanna Conference champion clinch
the title and emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match.
Gombe Bulls in a show of strength and determination won the first quarters 26- 21, second quarter 31-
26, third quarter 64-58, before sealing the victory with 81-72 in the last quarter.
Speaking after the action-packed games, Nigeria Basketball Federation President, Tijani Umar, expressed
delight over the high standard of play exhibited during the finals.
“We are very happy with the dedication and commitment of the players, coaches and administrators of the
game during this league season.
The fact that the defending champion, Kano Pillars couldn’t make it to the final was an indication that
our domestic basketball league is growing courtesy of the Kwese Sports sponsor,” he said.?
Coach Abdulraman Mohammed of Gombe Bulls, dedicateed his side’s victory to the Sport Loving Governor of
Gombe State, Hassan Dankwambo.
We dedicate this victory to our governor, Hassan Dankwambo who would leave office soon after successful
completion of his tenure.
“We had our game plans and all we needed to do was keep our focus and continue the way we began.
“We did not play with pressure, we were confident from the onset that we were going to achieve this and
we are happy to do that in the end.”
Before the final match, former champion, Kano Pillars had beaten Hoops and Read 81-76 in the third
place match to take N10 million prize money.
The win also fetched Gombe Bulls whopping N20 million prize money from Kwese Sports, while Falcons
received N15 million.
The two finalists would represent Nigeria in next year’s FIBA Africa Club Championship.