Nigeria Customs Ladies on Saturday defeated First Bank of Lagos 54-49 to lift the 2022 Mark D Ball Women’s Basketball Championship title at the Indoor Sports Hall of Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja.
Nigeria Customs hit the ground running from the first quarter by taking an 18-15 lead into the second quarter.
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First Bank were not going to sit back as they raced back into the game to level scores at the end of the second quarter at 30-30 in a tough contest.
But the Nigeria Customs girls showed how determined they were to lift the trophy by rallying round to end the third quarter with a five-point advantage at 42-37.
They eventually announced their victory with another spirited display in the final quarter to run away with a 54-49 final scoreline.
The champions pocketed a N1 Million cash prize while the runners-up, First Bank, were rewarded N750,000.
Kada Angels of Kaduna on Friday evening edged Sunshine Angels of Akure 68-66 to win the losers final, and prize money of half a million Naira.
The team of the championship has Regina Donanu (MFM), Chidinma Okeke (Sunshine Angels), Ifunaya Okoro (Firstbank), Gift Ucheena (Kada Angels) and Nkem Akaraiwe (Nigeria Customs).
Nkem was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) while Iornumbe was recognized as the Most Defensive player (MDP) while Okeke received the award for the most assists in the tournament.
Uchenna, who is the only player to record 20+ rebounds in a single game was awarded the Highest Rebound as she also lead the tournament in rebounds.
Multiple musical award winner, 2Baba; Joel, Goya Menor, Daddy Showkey, MC Smart, Pastor Nicodemus, Chucks D General all performed live at the final ceremony which also served as the opening ceremony of the men’s championship which will run for 12 weeks and feature 24 teams.
According to the initiator of the Championships, Igoche Mark, the New Face of Basketball movement is geared towards revamping the fortunes of domestic basketball in Nigeria and making sure basketball does not remain docile again.
Mark called on all credible stakeholders to join hands with him to grow the domestic component of the game, to mirror top Basketball Championships like the European Basketball League, and the American NBA.
Draws for the men’s competition was conducted on Saturday just before the women’s final.
