The much hyped 2025 Accra Basketball League (ABL) Regular Season game between defending champions Spintex Knights and close rivals Nungua Coldstore lived up to the billing.
Much buzz was generated in the Ghanaian basketball circles in the lead up to the game considering the teams competed for the title last season that had Spintex Knights emerge victorious.
There were brilliant plays, altercations and controversies that got the thrilling matchup to end on a flat note as Knights walked away as winners by default with a 2-0 result.
The game ended 75-75 at the end of regulation with Coldstore’s Richard Daniels three point shot tying the contest and forcing the game into overtime after Knights failed to convert a shot attempt.
However, Coldstore couldn’t see out the game in overtime after running out of bodies due to a combination of injuries picked up in the course of the game and its bench getting ejected from the game.
Naija sinks the three pointer to tie the game at 75 with 9 seconds left in the game @ColdstoreB and @spintexknights delivering an all timer here at the El-Wak Stadium @Abbleague pic.twitter.com/dDtHbrhYxB
— Yaw Adjei-Mintah (@YawMintYM) May 17, 2025
Members on Coldstore’s bench were deemed to have left the bench area to get involved in an on-court melee that started via a scrap for the ball. The ejected players included shooting guard Daniel Attoh and power forward Dennis Dugbenu.
Alright fellas, that was… something.
Get it all off your chest 👇🏾💬#ABL2025 pic.twitter.com/PcmvQImhZB— Accra Basketball League (@Abbleague) May 17, 2025
The decision led to several stoppages and delays as fans of Coldstore vented their frustrations towards game officials. Prior to these incidents, the game was played at a competitive and frenetic pace that had Coldstore trail 34-39 at half time despite having a slow start.
At the end of the contest, Coldstore weren’t happy about the game’s officiating while Knights via head coach Thomas Amedeku, was far from satisfied with the win as he cited poor turnovers and a lack of energy from his team in the fourth quarter and ABL Director Alex Kukula sounded off on disciplinary issues that happened several times in the game.
Some James Harden tear drop shot happening live at El Wak Stadium @ColdstoreB battle @spintexknights @Abbleague pic.twitter.com/tupswO0Aet
— Yaw Adjei-Mintah (@YawMintYM) May 17, 2025
The latest chapter of the Spintex Knights and Nungua Coldstore showed another competitive battle between two of Ghana’s best basketball outfits that deserved better than a deflating ending.
Smooth very smooth @ColdstoreB V @spintexknights @Abbleague pic.twitter.com/rXKyKApno4
— Yaw Adjei-Mintah (@YawMintYM) May 17, 2025
