|
Fall-out of FIBA Africa Zone-3 Qualifiers
Swallows sure of wild card - Khaleh
Togolese champion, Swallows Basketball Club which Monday at the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Lagos won the third place game of the FIBA Africa Zone-3 Champions Cup qualifiers with a 84-58 points victory over ASPAC of Benin Republic still stand a chance of making it to the finals of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup billed for Tunis, Tunisia from December 14 – 24.
Although the first two top teams – Kano Pillars and Union Bank are sure qualifiers for the continent biggest club competition, FIBA Africa Zone 3 president, Nigeria’s Muktar Adamu Khaleh told www.vandykesport.com on Monday in Lagos that the third place winner is a sure candidate for the wild card once the continental basketball body decides to look towards the direction of the zone.
“The wild card option is still open, may be in a week time FIBA African will tell us what exactly the position is, so there is hope for Swallows featuring at the finals in Tunisia”.
Khaleh who is the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Director of League admitted that the Togolese torch bearer was one of the impressive teams at the one week event hosted by Union Bank Basketball Club, Lagos.
“Honestly, Swallows surprised everybody with their performance, they were not given chances, the Ivorian team, Phenix attracted more mention but at the end it was the Swallows came from behind to steal the show. They are the most improved team and it will be my joy to see them play in the finals,” he said.
It would be recalled that the Togolese side began the losers final on a slow pace losing the first quarter by 09-15 points but came back with a bang in the second quarter by opening up a five points gap winning by 28-17 points to end the first half 37-32 points.
Determined to pick the third spot behind Nigeria duo of Kano Pillars and Union Bank basketball clubs, Swallows continued its onslaught against the Cotonou-based ASPAC with a 23-08 and 24-18 points victories in the third and fourth quarters.
Pillars confirmed their superiority over Union Bank whom they defeated recently during the Super Eight in Kano with an 87 – 76 points victory.
Results of the FIBA Afica Zone 3 Qualifiers
Swallows 72 – 68 Pythons
Union Bank 96 – 44 Energie
Energie 52 – 34 Pythons
Swallows 68 – 75 Union Bank
ASPAC 88 – 64 Racing
Kano Pillars 73 – 58 Phenix
Phenix 78 – 61 Racing
ASPAC 52 – 95 Kano Pillars
Energie 54 – 72 Swallows
Phenix 52 -57 ASPAC
Classification 7 – 8 place
Energie 65 – 66 Racing
Classification 5 – 6 place
Pythons 59 – 65 Phenix
Semi finals results
Kano Pillars 71 – 47 Swallows
Union Bank 82 – 71 ASPAC
Classification 3 – 4 place
Swallows 84 - 58 ASPAC
Final result
Union Bank 76 – 87 Kano Pillars |
