BULAWAYO (FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup 2018) - Angolan side InterClube, and Lakers of Zimbabwe became the latest teams to secure their tickets for this year's FIBA Africa Women's Championships Cup (FIBA ACCW) which will take place from November 16 - 25 in Mozambique.

The Luanda-based side registered an incredible unbeaten 6-0 run at the just concluded FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifiers in the southwestern city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe to qualify for the FIBA ACCW, while the Lakers secured the second slot available for the Southern Africa teams thanks to a 3-3 mark. 

The tournament was played on a round robin basis with the Angolan side reminding everyone why they are the most successful women's basketball side in Africa in the last decade. 

InterClube made light work of the other three teams winning convincingly twice on the trot against them posting centuries in five of the six games on a field day that made the other teams minnows in their presence. 

 
In their opening game, InterClube defeated Zimbabwean side Lakers 96-40 before seeing off another home side Vixens 107-25. Despite a brave display, Malawian outfit Bravehearts failed to stop the high flying InterClub who won 110-34. 

The second round did not spell any luck for the losing sides in the first round as InterClube displayed a scoring prowess that completely set them apart from the group of teams they were competing against. 

Three convincing wins over Brave Hearts (113-42), Lakers (122-30) and Vixens (124-22) meant that a 6-0 win ratio was enough to send InterClube to Maputo next month for the continental showpiece.

After the tournament, InterClube poster girl Italee Lucas said, "This tournament in Zimbabwe was a great way to help us build our chemistry as a team on and off the court. The other teams played extremely hard and did not give up the entire time despite the score which I really appreciate and showed tremendous character."

"The people in this country have been so welcoming , warm and helpful. We still have work to do but we are going to take this experience and improve minor details for the African Championships in Maputo."

"WHAT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR IS WE WILL BE A STRONGER TEAM THAN THE LAST. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND WE DON’T EVER SETTLE " - Lucas

 In Maputo, InterClube will meet tougher opposition including their nemesis in recent years in hosts Ferroviario de Maputo as well as Angolan archrivals and reigning African champions Primero de Agosto. 

"Our first objective is to win with pride and respect . To continue to put Angola on the map as one of the toughest basketball countries in Africa. We know with that type of responsibility we place on our shoulders we need to work five times as hard if not more because we will always have a target on our backs. And we embrace every opportunity and chance we are blessed with and will prepare ourselves in a way so that we are ready when the time comes."

The last time InterClube won the African title was in 2016 in Maputo after defeating Ferroviario de Maputo 67-49 and with this in mind, InterClube will be ready to avenge their semifinal 71-62 loss to the Mozambican giants if an opportunity presents itself. 

"Ferroviario de Maputo is always a tough team. They play hard from start to finish which I really respect and love playing against them. What will be different this year is we will be a stronger team than the last. We are always looking for ways to improve and we don’t ever settle" Lucas emphasised. 

Hosts Ferroviario de Maputo, reigning African champions Primeiro de Agosto, Equity Hawks and Kenya Ports Authority from Zone 5, InterClube and Lakers are the teams that have booked their tickets to the Final phase.. 

FIBA