The Air Warriors Basketball Club of Abuja staged a remarkable comeback on Wednesday, securing a narrow 42-41 victory over Nigeria Customs in the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball Final Four Championships, currently underway at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. Organised by the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) and sponsored by Zenith Bank, the championship will ultimately determine the 2023 national women’s champion.
The Air Warriors, seeking redemption after a 75-48 defeat in their initial match against the Mountain of Fire Miracles, displayed resilience and determination against Nigeria Customs. Trailing 26-23 at halftime, the team rallied in the third quarter, holding Customs to a 30-30 tie by the quarter’s end.
A stellar performance by players such as Onome Policarp, Oyindamola Abdulazeez, Motuntayo Jimoh, and Olivia Omaga, both offensively and defensively, proved instrumental in securing the narrow 42-41 victory.
Policarp expressed the team’s confidence and determination, emphasising the significance of overcoming their earlier loss. “Coming from behind to defeat Customs is a big boost to our confidence. We had lost three times to them this season,” she said. Looking ahead, Policarp stated that the victory set the stage for a strong performance against the Bayelsa Blue Whales in their final match.
Head Coach Samson Sotinminu commended his team’s deserving victory, especially highlighting their ability to overturn the game from a trailing position. He emphasised the importance of a strong showing in the upcoming crucial match against the Bayelsa Blue Whales.
On the other side, Nigeria Customs’ Head Coach, Mohammed Abba, lamented the loss, attributing it to lapses in professionalism during the final quarter. Despite the setback, Abba expressed determination to bounce back in the next game, underscoring its crucial nature in the team’s pursuit of winning the league.
