Gaskiya College booked their place in the final of the Hoops for Tomorrow tournament after producing a determined fightback to defeat King’s College 18–15 in the opening semi-final encounter.
The closely contested game saw King’s College appear to have the advantage in the early stages, putting pressure on Gaskiya as both sides battled for control.
However, Gaskiya gradually closed the scoring gap and eventually secured a three-point victory to advance to the final scheduled for tomorrow.
The result highlighted the importance of teamwork and defensive discipline, particularly for a Gaskiya side that had to respond to the challenge posed by their opponents before securing the win.
Sport247 reports after the encounter, Gaskiya player Rasheed Taofeek admitted that he had initially expected his team to struggle, but credited the coach’s instructions for helping the players remain focused.
“I thought we would lose the game. But our coach told us that we should play good defence,” Rasheed said.
He further explained that the team had to address its foul problems during the encounter, revealing that the coach encouraged him to remind his teammates to reduce unnecessary fouls.
Rasheed said the players responded by limiting their fouls and improving their defensive approach.
However, Gaskiya’s coach, John Ejikweme, admitted that the team’s performance was below his expectations despite the important victory.
“My boys were supposed to play more than what they played today. They were more coordinated than this. They were more composed than this,” Ejikweme said.
The coach also noted that the players had not played on the court for a long time, which may have affected their adjustment during the encounter.
With the semi-final challenge now behind them, Gaskiya will turn their attention to today’s final, where they will have another opportunity to demonstrate their progress and compete for the Hoops for Tomorrow title.
