Basketball in Africa

By Olawale Ajimotokan
Otukpo — Two Lagos-based teams will contest for the female honours of the 14th Mark D'Ball Basketball Tournament in Otukpo after they won their respective semi final matches last night.
The highly fancied Pearls outplayed Plateau Rockers 54-42 to set up an-all Lagos female finale with Baby Seals. Pearls are the only female side with 100 percent performance in the series.
With the experience of Chidinma Nwakanma, coupled with their international exposure where they recently finished fourth in the African Championship in Tunisia, the odds favour Pearls.
They prevailed in earlier meeting with Seals, winning 27-23 in Group A. Baby Seals overcame a resilient FCT Angels 49-46 in the second semi final that was packed with entertainment to reach the final. The encounter seemed like a blowout for Seals, inspired by the technical ability of Patience Ope, the rebounding of Burkina Faso import, Cecil Niambenaidougou and the leadership of Juliet Currency, until the Angels increased the tempo in the final quarter to the delight of the spectators. They will now meet Rockers in the third place match that will be played this morning.