Nigerian champions, First Bank Basketball Club, secured their third consecutive victory at the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 qualifiers, defeating defending champions Friends Basketball Association (FBA) 63-59 to secure their place in the WBLA Final round in Cairo, www.aclsports.com reports.
The clash at the Palais des Sports de Treichville saw First Bank recover from a slow start to overturn a 16-point deficit and dominate the rest of the game. FBA raced to a 26–10 lead in the opening period, but the Elephant Girls fought back in the second, scoring 24 points to FBA’s 11 and taking a 37–34 lead at halftime. First Bank controlled the third and fourth quarters, outscoring the home side 29–22 over the final 20 minutes to seal a 63–59 victory.
Key performers included Daphne Olugbagho, who contributed 10 points and 4 rebounds, while Abigail Isaac added 7 points and 3 rebounds. Wandoo Marvis Hembam starred with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists, and Momoluwa Tewogbade chipped in 7 points and 2 rebounds, helping First Bank edge past FBA in a tense finish.
The win ensured Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu’s side finished with a perfect record of three wins from three games. FBA ended second with one win from three matches, while Energie BBC and CSA also recorded one victory each but fell behind due to a lower points differential.
With the Zone 3 qualifiers complete, First Bank will turn their attention to the WBLA Final Round in Cairo, where they will look to extend their winning streak and compete for continental glory.
