Basketball: Grizzly Bears, Lagos Legends secure wins as Bullet championship begins

Grizzly Bears on Tuesday lived up to expectations by beating Raptors 57-32 as the Bullet Energy Basketball tournament kicked off at the National Stadium, Surulere.

Spectators at the venue had rated the Raptors as favourites to win the opening game, although others also expected a very close fight.

In the women’s category of the competition, defending champions First Bank dominated War Queens of Abeokuta and deservedly won the match 31-15

Lagos Legends, new forces on the court, stepped out against men’s champions Rivers Hoopers with the entertaining game ending 33-23 in Legends’ favour.

Hoopers, however, took every step with extra care as they appeared to prepare for the national NBBF final-8 playoff starting on November 7.

“We opted to take things easy and found the game as a boost to the bigger one coming next week,” take things easy with this competition. It is a good boost to our training programme but it’s close to another competition,” one of the Hoopers’ officials explained.

Historical club Ebun Comets fell 26-23 to War Lords in another men’s game while former women’s champions Air Warriors overwhelmed Peace Academy 60-20.