MONROVIA (Liberia) - Friends Basketball Association (FBA) otherwise known as Gladiators have emerged the winners of the 2024 FIBA Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 Qualifiers.
Here's how the last day of action unfolded in Liberia:
New Queens of Zone 3
The Ivorian champions, playing in their first final in Zone 3 against MFM Queens, confirmed that they were the best team, winning all games they played in the Qualifiers taking the title game with a 62-57 win.
FBA entered the final game on the backdrop of a group stage 13-points win over MFM but did not have it as easy as they had anticipated.
Coach Lemou Benga and his bench kept cool but marched MFM all the way in a game that had several lead changes and rough encounters that led to injuries that left MFM coach Ochuko Okorogun Lawal complaining of the tricks by the opposition that left her players injured.
The game remained close from the beginning all through to the end with scores at 16-16, 18-19, 11-11 and 17-11 but it was FBA that carried the day as thunder failed to strike twice in the same place for MFM.
Ever dependable guard for FBA, Tounkara Djelika put up a spectacular display scoring a game high 25 points while Berthe Seran and Captain Grace Tolo added 14 points apiece.
"This a very good end to the Qualifiers as we emerged the champions of Zone 3. I am very happy for the team. We were able to keep to the instructions of our coaches to survive MFM. What's left for us now to go start our preparations for the big event in Dakar, Senegal," she told FIBA.basketball after the game.
On the part of MFM, Cynthia Gbihi led the floor with 14 points while Idubamo Beggi adding 11 points with Jane Iriele contributing 11 points as well.
As it stands now, the two sides are headed to Dakar, Senegal with confidence to represent the Zone adequately.
Customs restore image in third place win over Energie
Nigeria Customs team had their pride restored with a 61-43 win over Energie BBC in the third place game.
Both teams showed determination to exert their presence as Energie drew the first blood through Afetse Elisabeth to show their hunger for the third place finish as the first quarter ended 11-10 in favor of the Benin champions.
However on resumption of the second quarter, Customs came out smoking and piled the pressure on Energie to close it at 20-4 going into the halftime break with a score of 30-15.
Energie fought back in the third quarter outscoring Customs 14-12 but they could not keep the tempo in the last quarter which ended 19-14 for Customs.
Fully recovered American import for Customs Tynice Martin returned to score 17 points and Tobiloba Ogedengbe registered a double-double 10 points, 13 rebounds to ensure victory for the Nigeria side. Oyindamola Abdulazee after the game said it was a big relief to have ended the Zone 3 Qualifiers with a third place win. "It was not an easy game against Energie but the win is a sign of progress for us."
Ever reliable Afetse Elisabeth of Energie led the floor for her team with 12 points and 5 rebounds as her team finished in fourth place
FIBA