The Bulls started brightly, edging out Bauchi Nets 64-61 in their opening fixture. However, they stumbled in their second outing, falling 65-47 to hosts Kano Pillars, before Plateau Peaks handed them a 71-54 defeat in the last game of the first round.
After a one-day break, the second round tipped off on Monday with renewed hope as Gombe Bulls returned to winning ways, beating Bauchi Nets 67-57. But their momentum was cut short by Kano Pillars, who triumphed 64-52, before the Bulls bowed out with another defeat, losing 85-74 to Plateau Peaks in their final group game.
This year, Gombe Bulls shifted focus toward nurturing young talents, with standout performances from new face Haruna Saleh, who impressed in his first phase outing.
Speaking after the phase, Head Coach Samson John admitted that lack of preparation and inexperience played a role in the team’s struggles.
“The players didn't have long preparations before the first phase, and almost half of the players met in Kano, which affected the team's performance. The venue contributed too because most players were first-timers,” Samson explained.
“Moving forward, we will go back to the drawing board and grab every opportunity in the second phase.”
Team captain Antibas Samaila also reflected on the rough campaign, pointing out challenges both on and off the court.
“It’s really a rough one for us as a team and individuals. We struggled, we battled, we panicked, and we made mistakes that cost us games due to not being together and practising enough as a team,” Samaila admitted.
“We've tried to give our best, but it wasn't enough. The environment, the court; it wasn’t friendly to some of us. As a sportsman, I know a bad court can limit a player's efficiency.”
Despite the setbacks, the captain insists the team will bounce back stronger in the next phase.
“The importance of this first outing is that we’ve seen our strengths and weaknesses. We got corrections from our coaches, watched our highlights, and learned from our mistakes,” he said.
“This first phase doesn’t define who we are. The next phase is going to be a different ball game, and we’ll be there to compete, not just participate.”
The second phase of the league will run from September 24 to October 5, 2025, at the National Indoor Sports Hall, Rayfield Jos, with Gombe Bulls competing against Kano Pillars, Plateau Peaks, Bauchi Nets, Gboko City Chiefs, Nigeria Customs, Nile University, and Correctional Services.
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