The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Southwest Unity Basketball Championship bounced off in style at the Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with six pulsating games marking the opening day of the regional contest.
In the headline encounter, Oyo State’s Oluyole Warriors lived up to their billing as tournament favourites, outclassing Ogun Rockets 73–58 in their Group B opener. The Warriors controlled the pace of the game, displaying fluid ball movement and solid defence to seal a comfortable win.
Elsewhere, Delta Force staged the comeback of the day against Osun United. Trailing by eight points at halftime after a sluggish first half, Delta Force regrouped with a fierce defensive display and sharp shooting to snatch a 50–44 victory.
Police Baton also impressed, dismantling Dodan Warriors 67–47 in a dominant showing, while the University of Ibadan sent out a strong statement of intent with the most emphatic win of the day — an 81–55 rout of Sports Nation.
In other results, Edo Beads outclassed Ondo Riders 61–42 in a one-sided affair, before Lagos-based Hoops & Reads capped off the day with a commanding 79–60 win over Ekiti Foundations, fuelled by a blistering 28–8 first-quarter start.
Matchday 1 Results:
- Delta Force 50–44 Osun United
- Police Baton 67–47 Dodan Warriors
- University of Ibadan 81–55 Sports Nation
- Oluyole Warriors 73–58 Ogun Rockets
- Edo Beads 61–42 Ondo Riders
- Hoops & Reads 79–60 Ekiti Foundations
The championship, which brings together top basketball talents from across the Southwest and beyond, continues today with another round of fixtures as teams jostle for early supremacy.
