ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - Veteran Cameroonian forward Sandrine Ayangma helped her side, Overdose Up Station, pick their first victory at the ongoing Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) as the side defeated Benin's ASPAC 77-52. 

The 37-year-old was featuring for the first time, having missed the side's first match after arriving in Alexandria on Wednesday morning ahead of the match. She still managed to emerge as her side's top scorer with 16 points in just over 25 minutes. 

Overdose Up Station celebrate their first-ever AWBL victory

Ayangma admits that her team, making their debut on the continental stage, may not be well-equipped to compete against the best in the continent, but in a quick rejoinder believes being here is an important step in helping Cameroon's women's basketball grow. 

Ayangma noted: "It was important for us to feature in this championship. We have won the national league in the last 5 seasons but have not featured in any of the continental showpieces until now. 

"We need to play against the best in Africa and the world as that will help the young players grow and elevate the levels of women's basketball back home," she offered. 

Sandrine Ayangma

What's more, the veteran who has already begun her transition to coaching and is heavily involved with youth basketball in her country says her experience in Alexandria as a player will go a long way in moulding the younger generation.

"I am a coach, in charge of some young players back home and this competition has helped me view the game in a different light," she opened up. 

She continued, "The speed of the game and the skillsets are different from what most of us grew up playing. Players are smarter with the ball and are moving better. As we head back home, these are some of the valuable lessons I will carry with me and incorporate in my training with the youth players as I look to change the landscape of basketball in Cameroon for the better." 

Sandrine Ayangma helped Cameroon to a second place finish at 2015 Women's AfroBasket

Ayangma says playing at this level has been eye-opening not only for herself as a player and coach but for the young players in her team who will look to compete at the same level with their peers soon if they put this experience to work. 

"Being one of the veterans in the team, it is my responsibility to help them (youngsters) understand how to play the game at this level, as I also learn. 

"They have to let the game flow, play without hesitation against all teams and most importantly, learn, regardless of the results in any match," she offered, adding that her team may not be the best but they would leave the AWBL inaugural edition a better team.

FIBA