CIV - ABC compound First Bank woes, win 81-72

ABIDJAN (FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers) - Abidjan Basket Club (ABC) of Cote d’Ivoire late Thursday compounded the woes of Nigeria women league champion, First Bank basketball club in the FIBA Africa Zone-III Qualifiers with a 81-72 points victory to inch nearer picking a ticket to the final round of the 16th FIBA Africa Champions Club Cup for Women.

ABC who lost to Nigeria First Deepwater basketball club by 61-53 points on Tuesday gave their all to see off the challenges poised by the Elephant Girls.

ABC forward, Fatoumata Camara big effort of 17 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 block-shot was enough to give her side victory over the Nigeria champion who won the African title in 2003.

First Bank rallied to a 16-12 points win in the first quarter of the highly charged game but the Ivorian side charged back like a wounded Elephants in the second quarter and never looked back until the buzzer-shot winning the three remaining quarters by 20-17, 25-17 and 24-22 points respectively.

ABC play-maker, Achiata Diomande also gave a good account of her-self scoring 17 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds, Salimata Berte contributed 17 points just as Tshiniangu Kalanda added 12 points and 9 rebounds for a well deserved victory for the former Ivorian league champion.

First Bank play her last qualifiers game against Unity Basketball Club, UBC of Togo as the team jets back home aboard Ethiopia Airline Friday.

Olusegun IKUESAN
FIBA Africa