D’Tigers of Nigeria shooting guard, Josh Okogie is relishing the Nigerian team’s close knit 99-90 victory over Cameroon in their last group match at the ongoing African Men’s Senior Basketball Championship in Luanda, Angola, which he believes was made possible by tight combination play from the players.
Sports247 reports that the 26-year-old Okogie led the way with 16 points, as D’Tigers survived a fourth quarter slump to overcome the gallant Cameroonians with just a nine-point margin at the of Sunday’s clash.
The Houston Rockets of USA star was joined on the list of D’Tigers’ high scorers by Caleb Agada (15 points), Stan Okoye (14), Ike Nwamu (12), Michael Mekowelu (12) and Stephen Igbanu (10), which the top notcher said is a pointer to the values of cordial team work among all the Nigerian players.
At the final buzer of Sunday’s game in Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda, the scoreboard read 28-25, 30-16, 26-12, 15-37 in Nigeria’s favour, and Okogie admitted it was a tight game, with a fair enough outcome for a tough clash.
Okogie declared, “The game went well. We came out with victory at the end of the day. That’s how it works and, individually, we all gave it our best.
“Our combination play helped us, and we always work together. For each game, it can be someone else who’s leading the scores.”
The former Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets and Phoenix Suns of America star downplayed the fact that he has emerged Nigeria’s top scorer in their last two games, with a view that any other member of the squad can equally do the same.
“For me, it’s just to see that we continue winning. That’s how I look at the game and I was also able to impact at both ends.
“Sometimes, it may be defence or more of offence. Whatever I can do to help the team is what I’m going to do.”
Okogie concluded with a look ahead of D’Tigers’ quarter-finals fixture and affirmed: “I was expecting a win from this match, and my target is to get a win in the next one as well.”
