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By Joe Apu
FIBA Africa Zone 3 winners, Nigeria Customs Service Women Basketball Team on Tuesday finished 5th overall at the 2023 edition of the Africa Women’s Basketball League with a perfect result of 83-53 points win over Equity Bank Hawks of Kenya.
The Border Ladies as they are known did not leave anything to chance from the tips-off even as they were without the services of three key players – Olaoluwatomi Taiwo, Maranne Johnson as well as Isabel Gonzalez but went on to out class their opponent in all four quarters (18-16, 19-12, 23-18, 23-7) to end their campaign on a promising note.
Despite the Zone 3 qualifiers which held late and gave the Abdulrahman Mohammed tutored side little room for further adjustment and more time for preparation thus ending the continent biggest women club competition on a 4-3 record.
“The three had emergencies that forced them to travel… the rest were able to carry the load. We got everything right today and remained consistent throughout the four quarters. Our box out and transition defense were excellent and we had players stepping up to give the captain help offensively. They left everything on the court and it was near perfect,” the tactician offered.
Team captain Nkem Akaraiwe led the floor with 27 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 44 efficiency rating. She was joined on double digits by Favour Chiamaka Opara who poured in 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 26 efficiency rating while Ebere Cordelia Okeke added 10 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists to spur a big celebration from the Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Ladies.
Akaraiwe had the Customs Comptroller General to thank for his immense support for the team.
“I am excited that we could reach this far given the short time we had to prepare from the Zonal elimination which was concluded a few days before our departure to Alexandria, Egypt for the competition proper.
“On behalf of the players and the technical crew, we want to appreciate our CGC and the Nigeria Customs Service management for the huge support given to us and we promise to continue to make the team, the service and country proud,” she concluded
