D’Tigers Beat Angola To Become AfroBasketball Champions
The Nigeria senior basketball team, D’Tigers’ have won the AfroBasketball competition, after beating defending champion Angola, in the finals.
D’Tigers’ won the competition for the first time ever as they beat the Angolans 74-65, in what was a re-match of the AfroBasket 2003 final, when the Angolans came out the victors.
The game which started on a low key for the Nigerian team saw the Angolans win the first quarter 13-10, but the Nigerians bounced back in the second quarter when Chamberlain Oguchi was introduced winning the quarter 37-24, a quarter which saw the Angolans concede a lot of fouls which was twice as much as D’Tigers.
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D’Tigers’ continued their resurgence in the third quarter winning it 51-36 as the Angolans appeared demoralized, and rounded of the game in a 74-65 in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chamberlain Oguchi became the man of the tournament, winning three individual medals; the best three pointer, made the A team, and the best player of the tournament, while Senegal’s Gorgui Dieng won the best Rebounder and scoring titles.
Oguchi also headlined the All-Star Five which also included his Nigeria team-mate Al-Farouq Aminu, Morais of Angola, Tunisia’s Makram Ben Romdhane and Gorgui Dieng of Senegal.
Expressing his excitement on winning the MVP award, the 29 year old said;
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“It’s the best moment of my life, to be able to come here after missing the last AfroBasket, to be able to come here and do this with my brothers, it feels amazing,”
“I’m happy to be able to share this moment with them and for me personally, it’s just really great.
Host of the Tournament, Tunisia came third after dumping Senegal.
With this victory, Nigeria has automatically qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, while Angola along with those that finish third and fourth, will claim places in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
