.jpg)
The Lagos State Sports Commission at the weekend stopped it's affiliate clubs from using the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, Rowe Park as venue for the Kwesè Premier Basketball League forcing the teams to seek alternative venue.
Teams affected by the decision are Hoops n Read basketball club owned by former Nigeria senior national team - D'Tigers captain, Olumide Oyedeji, Nigeria Customs basketball club, Police Baton and Ebun Comets.
The Police Batons club of Lagos however recorded its first win of the season beating Delta Force 86-77 points at the new home court of the Atlantic Conference teams in Lagos, the Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa, Oshodi. The game went into overtime after scores stood at 77-77 at end of regulation time.
The second game Anambra Flames club of Akwa defeated Customs of Lagos by 72 - 56 points.
The displaced teams commended the Chairman of the Kwese Premier League Management Board Olumide Oyedeji, for bringing the games to the ultra modern facilities at the old Nitel complex, that has air-conditioned indoor hall, swimming pool, ultra modern gym, a spa, 4D cinema hall and a three star hotel facilities.
The four Lagos based teams are not happy at the action of the Lagos state government which stopped the Atlantic Conference games from holding at the Rowe Park.
The clubs said the govt was unfair and shouldn't have taken side with any of the faction in the Nigeria Basketball Federation leadership crisis when the principal body, the Sports Ministry left the matter in the hands of the international federation, FIBA to handle and FIBA in its wisdom has called for a fresh election as it did not recognised the June 12 and 13 elections in Kano and Abuja in 2017.
The four Lagos clubs are sad that after they paid N20,000 state affiliation fees each to the Lagos State Sports Commission, their interest was not protected in the league they are participating in. "The Lagos State government should have consulted us before storming the Rowe Park to stop the league, anyway, the action was a blessing in disguise, as the facilities at the old Nitel complex, now Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa, Oshodi are better than what we have at the Rowe Park", one of the Lagos clubs' coach said.
In the Atlantic conference, Niger Potters of Minna picked an away win of 81-71 points against Civil Defence of Abuja, AHIP Giants humbled Plateau Peaks by 87-82 while Gombe Bulls shown like a million stars as it handed defending champion Kano Pillars its worst defeat ever by 86-68 points victory.
Ebun Comets and Hoops n Read lost on the road with Comets succumbing to the superior fire power of Kwara Falcons by 81-57 points while Hoops n Read narrowly lost to Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan by 82-80 points.
