By Ado Salisu
Kano Pillars Basketball team yesterday recorded an 84–81 points victory over highly rated Aso Sky of Abuja in the ongoing Nigerian Premier League Basketball second-phase championship taking place in Minna, Niger State.
The win came against a resilient Aso Sky side in a closely contested encounter that kept spectators on edge till the final whistle.
The Pyramids City Boys have now won five of their six games, recording victories against Niger Potters of Minna, Gombe Bulls, Bauchi Nets, City Chiefs of Benue, and Aso Sky Hawks of Abuja, while their only defeat came against Nile University of Abuja.
With the result, Kano Pillars have secured qualification for the Final Eight, where the top four teams from the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences will compete for a place to represent Nigeria at the FIBA Zone 3 qualifiers later in the year.
Speaking after the victory, the Secretary of Kano Pillars Basketball Team, Bashir Musa, described the win as a “welcome gift” to the newly constituted board of the State Sports Commission led by Alhaji Muhammad Tukur Babangida.
He said the players had continued to perform despite financial challenges, noting that their commitment has been key to the team’s impressive run in the championship.
The tournament, organised by the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), is currently holding its second-phase matches across two centres in Minna and Enugu.
Bashir Musa expressed appreciation to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for his support and commitment to sports development in the state, while urging the players to sustain their efforts in pursuit of the team’s objectives.
Kano Pillars will next face 313 Warriors on Friday in their seventh match of the competition.
