Elephant Girls Stay Unbeaten After Stunning FBA In The WBLA Zone 3 Qualifiers

Elephant Girls Stay Unbeaten After Stunning FBA In The WBLA Zone 3 Qualifiers

After a rocky opening that had them chasing shadows by the end of the first quarter, Nigerian representatives First Bank Basketball Club roared back to life in the second, flipping the script and grinding out a thrilling 63–59 win over their Ivorian counterparts, Friends Basketball Association, at the ongoing Women’s Basketball League Africa Qualifiers.

The Elephant Girls looked headed for disaster in their final group game as FBA came out blazing—relentless, fiery, and fully locked in. The Ivorians stunned the Nigerians with a blistering 16–0 run, striking with ruthless precision and sending First Bank spiraling. In what felt like seconds, the Nigerian champions found themselves buried in a 16-point crater, trailing 26–10 after the opening quarter.

But champions rise.

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Wandoo Hembam, Godgift Joseph, Momololuwa Tewogbade, and Abigail Isaac combined for 36 crucial points, while standout performer Daphne Olugbagho powered her side with 11 points and two rebounds. On the other end, Zykera Rice was unstoppable—dropping a game-high 21 points and six rebounds—but her brilliance wasn’t enough to save FBA from what came next.

Nothing seemed to click for First Bank early on. Shots clanged out, turnovers piled up, and the team that had dominated its opening two games suddenly looked out of rhythm. But you don’t earn the title of “giant” without knowing how to claw your way back—and the Elephant Girls did exactly that.

The comeback didn’t erupt all at once; it simmered into form in the second quarter. First Bank tightened their defense, steadied their nerves, and delivered a clean 10–0 run that changed the temperature of the game. The energy shifted—palpable, powerful—and by halftime, the once-massive 16-point deficit had shrunk to a manageable three, with FBA leading only 37–34.

Momentum fully flipped in the third quarter, turning the contest into a gritty, back-and-forth battle. Possessions were intense, defense tightened on both sides, and though buckets were harder to come by, First Bank nudged ahead by taking the quarter 15–9.

The fourth quarter began with the Nigerians leading 49–46, and it quickly became a defining stretch for both teams. The lead changed hands multiple times, tension tightening with every possession. With five minutes left, the game hung on a razor’s edge—a single point separating the sides. And then came the dagger.
Theresa Ebiegea stepped up and delivered a cold-blooded three-pointer that put First Bank ahead for good. A final defensive stand and two clutch fast-break finishes sealed the comeback, capping a gritty, nerve-clenching 63–59 victory.

The final buzzer didn’t just confirm a win—it affirmed the heart, depth, and championship mentality of a team that refused to crumble even when the night turned stormy.

Statistically, it was a tale of contrasts. FBA leveraged their speed and inside presence to win the Fast Break battle (12–9) and Points in the Paint (26–20). But First Bank dominated the glass, converting that advantage into a commanding edge in Second Chance Points (17–9). Both teams forced turnovers effectively, with FBA holding a slim 14–12 advantage, but it was the Nigerians who made the moments that mattered most.

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]