Two high-flying teams in the ongoing preliminaries for the National Women League being organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation- First Bank of Lagos and IGP Queens also of Lagos – will clash today at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
The two teams have been dominating their opponents so far in the ongoing competition, which will qualify eight of the 16 teams playing in Benin ticket to compete in the National Women Basketball elite league sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc.
Only yesterday, First Bank defeated another top team, Dolphins 45-30 just as IGP Queens defeated First Deep Water 52-34. On the opening match day, First Bank defeated First Deep Water 47-19 and it was IGP who whipped Dolphin, 45-24 on match Day 2.
The First Bank team also on Saturday night defeated Ekiti Angels 59-19 and so they are closer to becoming the first team to book a ticket for the Zenith Bank National Women Basketball League finals.
With three wins recorded so far respectively, First Bank and the IGP Queens are aiming for the fourth. And so, the encounter today is a big test and very dicey for both sides.
On the other hand, host team Bini Queens have been struggling against the big teams with two defeats suffered against the Mountain of Fire Basketball Team and Sunshine Angels of Akure.
As the Atlantic Conference further gathers momentum, the Savanna Conference is expected to start on Wednesday June 7 in Zaria.
NBBF President, Musa Kida, has assured that the current format of having prelims will bring out the best in all the women basketball teams nationwide.
Kida said: “Everybody wants to play in the Women League finals being sponsored by Zenith Bank but to do so, the team must be in the first 16 bracket from the two Conferences. We are excited about this and as we move on I believe it will be better for our women players and teams. So much to play for.”