From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Bayelsa State claimed gold in the women’s basketball event at the 22nd National Sports Festival, defeating hosts Ogun State 59-37 in the final held at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
The highly anticipated clash featured the two top teams of the tournament, with a tightly contested first half that saw both sides trading baskets. Bayelsa edged ahead by five points (30-25) at halftime.
However, the defending champions came out with renewed intensity in the second half, dominating play and silencing the home crowd with a commanding performance that saw them pull away to a 22-point victory.
Reacting to the win, Bayelsa head coach Tony Nelson expressed his delight at retaining the title, especially against the host state.
“We were well prepared going into the final. We knew Ogun didn’t get here by luck—they’re a strong team. I told my girls to stay focused from start to finish, and I thank God for this victory,”
“The score may look like it was an easy win, but it was our preparation that made the difference.” Nelson Noted.
Guard Pius Beggi Idumabo, who played a pivotal role on both ends of the court, credited their composure and preparation for the win.
“We worked really hard for this game, and it paid off. The crowd didn’t faze us because our coach reminded us that the noise wouldn’t put points on the board. We kept pushing and stayed focused. Once we built a big lead, the crowd went quiet,” Beggi said.
“At halftime, we were only up by five, but our coach told us to reset and play like it was a fresh game—and that’s exactly what we did.”
Ogun State settled for silver and will be aiming to bounce back stronger in future editions.
