MFM head coach Ochuko Owolabi revealed that completing an unbeaten campaign was her team’s main objective as they secured the 2026 NBBF/Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League title, www.aclsports.com reports.
“To go unbeaten, that was my first plan. Definitely, if we go unbeaten, we will win the trophy. So, that was our main objective. I’m so happy and super proud of these girls. They played, I only talked. If I talk and they don’t listen, nobody will hear of me,” Owolabi said.
First Bank fought back to force overtime, but Owolabi, who has now guided MFM to all three of their league titles, said she never felt the team would lose.
“No, no, there was never a time I felt we were going to lose because the game was still on. The only time I know I will give up is if they’ve sounded the whistle. They’ve not, so I kept telling the players, ‘It is not over until it’s over.’ There was still time on the shot clock, enough time for us to cover our points. So, we never gave up.”
She credited MFM General Overseer Dr Daniel Olukoya and his wife, Dr Shade Olukoya, for their financial support, describing their backing, including during the off-season, as a major motivation for the team.
Meanwhile, Regina Iornumbe, who hit the game-winning basket in overtime against her former team, said she knew she had to take the shot.
“The only thing that came to my mind was to shoot the ball because I knew it was going to go in. That’s my range, and I knew we needed it. Personally, I needed this championship like my life depended on it. I was at First Bank for some years, and we lost the title. I came to MFM last year, and we lost, finishing third in the league,” she said.
Wandoo Hembam, part of all three of MFM’s title-winning teams, said she was proud of the achievement and credited her time in D’Tigress camp with improving her game.
“I feel very excited. I feel super proud of myself and my teammates. All the years of gratefulness, pain, sleepless nights, prayer answered by God Almighty. My experience with D’Tigress has given me an edge over other players. I’ve seen a very huge difference playing with them. I’m a shooter and I’ve gathered that courage to manoeuvre and score. That experience has helped me a lot,” she said.
Image: MFM
