Kano Pillars, Mark Mentors advance to final round of African Champions Cup

COTONOU (2015 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Clubs) - Nigerian clubs Kano Pillars and Mark Mentors clinched the two spots on offer for this year’s African Champions Cup (ACC) after finishing top of the 6-team Africa Zone 3 qualifier held in Cotonou, Benin.

As well as being named the tournament Most Valuable Player, Nigerian international Abubakar Usman paced Kano Pillars to a 5-0 record, while Nigerian champions Mark Mentors finished second with four wins in five games.

This year’s ACC will run in Luanda, Angola, from 10-20 December.

Kano Pillars and Mark Mentonts enter the race for this year's ACC crown joining ES Rades (Tunisia) FAR Rabat (Morocco), Gezira (Egypt), ASCUT (Madagascar), Desportivo de Maputo (Mozambique) and a trio of Angolan teams Petro de Luanda, ACC reigning champions Libolo and hosts Primeiro D’Agosto.

There are still two more places up for grabs for the ACC 2015, and it remains to be seen whether Pillars do make their return to FIBA Africa's solo club competition.

Kano Pillars (NGR)

After finishing ninth in the 2013 ACC edition held in Sousse, Tunisia, Pillars withdrew from last year’s ACC alleging administrative reasons.

African Champions Cup Zone 3 final standings:

1. Kano Pillars (Nigeria) (5-0)
2. Mark Mentors (Nigeria) (4-1)
3. ASPAC (Benin) 3-2
4. Braves (Ghana) 2-3
5. Mighty Barolla (Liberia) 1-4
6. LPRC (Liberia) 0-5

FIBA