Team SBL of Jos have made the most of their home tie to win their first tie in the NCC Tennis League group round robin matches to beat Team Luik of Lagos.
With the tie locked at 3-3 and losing or winning depending on the mixed doubles, the home team which featured the pair of Musa Mohammed and Fortune Ebere, rode a wave of very loud and passionate home support to beat Team Luik’s pair of Mohammed Mohammed and Oluchi Ozurumba 6-1, 6-3.
In the other matches that preceded the mixed doubles, Musa beat Mohammed and Chima Michael 6-3, 7-5 and 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 respectively in the singles. Musa who proved to be the tie winner then paired Daniel Odey to beat the pair of Michael and Henry John 6-4, 5-7, 10-7 to secure the four points needed to win the tie.
Team Luik’s three matches were won by Ronke Akingbade who beat Fortune Ebere 6-1, 6-3 in the women’s singles, Chima Michael 6-3 7-5 winner over Daniel Odey and Mohammed Mohammed who defeated Odey in the reverse singles.
In other group playoffs, visiting Team Kalotari outclassed Team Orofina of Warri 7-0 and Team Tech Vibes defeated Team Anambra also away in Onitsha 7-0.
Team CBN Futures playing against a formidable Team Goshen side, snatched a match in the reverse men’s singles where Michael Oshewa defeated Joseph Iyorovbe 7-5, 4-6, 10-4. The other team of youngsters based in Abuja, Team Next Gen, did not fare better as they lost 0-7 to a ruthless Team Offikwu which paraded four active former champions in Sylvester Emmanuel, Shehu Lawal, Henry Atseye and Christie Agugbom.
Team Leadway Assurance which has three national champions – Babalola abdulmumuni, clifford enosoregbe and Sarah Adegoke, were equally merciless in their away match in Ado Ekiti, beating Team Yetade 7-0.
In the blue group, Team Luik will host Team Offikwu in Lekki – Lagos, Team Leadway Assurance will host Team SBL of Jos at the National Stadium Lagos while Team Next Gen will take on Team Yetade of Ekiti in Abuja.
The League which is currently ongoing in various states across the country, this Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28, will also feature six ties:
Team Anambra will host Team Kalotari of Port Harcourt in Onitsha, Team Goshen will host Team Orofina of Warri in Ilorin and Team Tech Vibes will host Team CBN Features in Jos.
