Nungua Coldstore has been crowned champions of the Tema Community Basketball League after recording a 69-59 win over close rival Ashaiman Lions at the Community 4 Basketball Court.
The game which was a repeat of the postseason curtain raiser “Basketball Battle Tournament” earlier in the season, lived up to expectation with both sides thrilling fans gathered at the venue.
Nungua repeated the winning dose over Ashaiman as a mega quick start from the side propelled the side to victory. At the end of the first quarter, Coldstore held a 21-8 lead as Lions shots consistently fell short.
The situation didn’t improve in the second quarter as Lions Small Forward Philip Amalor played Point Guard resulting in several turnovers. Coldstore capitalized on the giveaways to extend its lead to 18 (37-19) at the end of the half.
Matters did change in the third quarter as an 11-0 run from Ashaiman to open the second half cut the team’s deficit to seven (30-37) with Shooting Guard Elvis Pobi-Siaw finally finding his shooting touch in the game on his way to produce three straight conversions beyond the arc.
Nungua uncharacteristically played a role in the run by gifting possession to the opposing side before recovering late in the quarter to halt Lions run.
Point Guard Nana Owusu Afriyie and Guard Emmanuel Wolff converted three point shots each to ensure Coldstore finished the quarter on top (50-44); under three minutes left in the quarter, the team held a single point lead.
Veteran Forward Enoch Borsah blew past Ahmed Bashiru for an emphatic dunk to begin proceedings in the final quarter and pick up where his Coldstore side left off. More turnovers compounded Lions’ problems as Pobi-Siaw was shackled by double and triple teams from Nungua.
Wolff scored right under the basket after a beautiful pass from Borsah found him alone in the paint before Guard Edwin Appiah sealed victory with a three point shot of his own.
Coldstore’s Kwame Boamah Djan was named Most Valuable Player of the League and Lions Carl Kuzagbe was named Defensive Player of the League.
Community 12 tied the third place series against Flashlights of Tema New Town with a 70-65 win. Game 3 is set to be played on November 13 at the same venue.
