The Nobles were on the brink of elimination from the Louis Edem Basketball Championship but delivered their best performance yet after sneaking into the last four.
The head coach of Ghana’s basketball team the Spintex Knights, Selorm Thomas, has explained how his team reacted to a miracle from God to deliver their best performance at the Louis Edem Basketball Championship.
Spintex Knights were on the brink of elimination after losing two of four matches in the group stage but served their best display on Friday after a lucky second chance.
How it happened
On Thursday evening, the Knights needed just a point from the final game in Group A to secure a place in the last four but were dealt a heavy blow.
They lost narrowly to Ebun Comets in the decisive jollof war following an exhilarating 54-56 final score, a result that left their fate hanging by a thread inside the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Surulere.
However, they needed a miracle to remain in the competition, with Ebun Comets taking on Unilag in their final game on the same day.
A miracle they got as Comets, who were the favourites to go through, having beaten Spintex, suffered a shock defeat to Unilag.
God gave us a second chance
Speaking exclusively to Pulse Sports Nigeria, coach Thomas explained that the Nobles came into the semifinal motivated to make the second chance given to them count by playing their best basketball yet.
“Yesterday (Thursday) after our game (vs Comets), everyone was down,” Thomas said. “We were hoping for a miracle (for Unilag to beat Comets).”
“We were just walking about in ShopRite when I got a call that Unilag had beaten Comets. You should have seen the excitement in the eyes of the players and it felt like God had given us another opportunity.”
On the performance against Lagos Legends in the semifinal on Friday, Thomas added that his boys were motivated not to disappoint God.
“He (God) probably felt we were not done here in Nigeria, so we went back to our rooms, got ready and came back with the mindset that if God has given us a second chance, then, we want to make good use of it,” he added.
“So, we just came out and played good basketball. That's what happened.”
Spintex Knights will face Nigerian champions, Kwara Falcons, on Saturday to determine the winner of the Louis Edem Basketball Championship and the grand prize of N2 million.
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