TheCable

Hot Coal defeated FCT Hardrockers 65-60 to win the Bullet Energy Basketball tournament on Sunday.

Hot Coal players, who were hardly counted in by analysts, shot aside the opposition as they went all the way to winning the trophy.

The tournament was initially scheduled to end on Saturday but was disrupted by the governorship and house of assembly election.

Teams, players, and fans, however, overcame the one-day break to make the best of it as the tournament cruised to the final on Sunday.

“We sat down and reviewed the schedule and the elections across the country and agreed that we just had to go with the competition and it was one of the best decisions taken in recent times,” Sam Oguche whose foundation organised the weeklong tournament said on Tuesday.

“A change in date would have affected other major events we have lined up for the year and we are really excited to have finished up, despite an additional day.

“We intend this programme to give the players opportunities to grow and for the teams to watch their players in actual match situations.”

According to Oguche, state basketball associations and the NBBF alone can no longer give the teams enough competition, adding that it informed his foundation’s resolve to stage the tournament that is now in its tenth year.

Organisers said the next stop for the tournament will be in Asaba, Delta state next month.