Team Ndoma-Egba last weekend grabbed the second semi-final ticket in style from the White Group to join three others in vying for the 2017 Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC Tennis League title.
Defending champions, Team Offikwu had before the last round of games already qualified from the White Group with four points and maintained their unbeaten run last weekend in the 2017 NCC Tennis League season after their 7-0 victory over Team CBN Futures in Kaduna.
Team Muller finished tops in the Blue Group with five maximum points as Team Civil Defence with four points also made it to the semi-finals of the NCC Tennis League.
Ndoma-Egba team thrashed Team Goshen 6-1 at the National Stadium, Abuja, to remain in contention for the NCC Tennis League title.
Right on the opening day {Saturday}, the Abuja-based side were ruthless as they raced to a 4-0 lead to dash the hope of Team Tech Vibe of Jos, who were equally hopeful of qualifying for the last four.
Former national champion, Thomas Otu secured the first win of the day for the homers when he outplayed Wale Babalola 6-3, 6-2 as Paul Emmanuel also triumphed over Joseph Adim 7-5, 6-3 in the second men’s singles.
Aanu Aiyegbusi made it 3-0 for Ndoma-Egba when she survived a long drawn second set in the ladies singles to edge Patience Onebamhoin 6-0, 7-5.
The Abuja side clinched the needed four points in the fixture when the pair of two former national champions Thomas Otu and Sunday Maku silenced Goshen’s Joseph Adim and Chima Iwuagu 6-3, 6-4 in the men’s doubles ahead of the remaining three games on Sunday.
Thomas Otu beat the visitors’ Joseph Adim 7-5, 7-6(2) in the first reverse men’s singles the following day, while home boy Paul Emmanuel also defeated Niyi Ibiwoye 6-4, 6-2 in the second reverse men’s singles.
However, in what served as a consolatory result, Team Goshen rallied to victory in the mixed doubles as the pair of Chinedu Iwuagu and Patience Onebamhoin beat Ndoma-Egba’s duo of Taiwo Owolabi and Osariemen Airhunmwunde 6-4 and 1-0 up (retired).
The semi-finals have been scheduled to hold at the Enugu Sports Club on November 18 and 19 and in Abuja on December 2 and 3.
Meanwhile, Team TechVibe also secured a 6-1 win over Team Yetade at the Elim Tennis Club, Jos, but the result was not good enough to see the Plateau team through as they finished third with three points.
Michael Michael bagged the first victory of the day when he defeated Michael Olajimbiti 6-4, 6-2 in the men’s singles, while Musa Bala made it 2-0 for the homers with his 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ayodeji Omodara in another men’s singles game.
However, the visitors proved bookmakers wrong in the ladies singles as Omolayo Bamidele conquered home girl Abies Amadasun 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
Team Tech Vibe ended the opening day with 3-1 scoreline as the duo of Oche Adehi and Musa Bala hammered Michael Olajimbiti and Ayodeji Omodara 7-5, 6-1 in the men’s doubles.
Musa Bala the following day sealed the victory of the homers when he edged Michael Olajimbiti 6-3, 6-1 as Michael Michael thrashed Ayodeji Omodara 6-2, 6-0 in the second men’s reverse singles.
Team Techvibe completed the demolition of Team Yetade of Ado Ekiti as the pair of Oche Adehi and Abies Amadasun outplayed the duo of Ayodeji Omodara and Toyosi 6-3, 6-1 in the mixed doubles.
According to the organisers of the NCC Tennis League, the winners go home with N7million as the finalists earn N5million, while the third and fourth-placed teams will settle for N3million and N2million respectively as prize money.
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