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Nigeria Customs Ladies have emerged champions of the 2022 Mark D Ball Women’s Basketball Championship which ended on Saturday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola national stadium in Abuja.
At the end of the highly entertaining finals, Nigeria Customs edged out perennial rivals, FirstBank of Lagos 54-49 points to win the giant trophy and N1m cash prize.
The women’s final which dunked off at 4pm prompt, was laced with the best of entertainment, funfair and other side attractions.
Multiple musical award winner, 2 Face Idibia, Joel, Goya Menor, Daddy Showkey, MC Smart, Pastor Nicodemus, Chucks D General all performed live and cheered the spectators into good mood.
The first quarter of the match went to the champions 18-15. FirstBank rallied back to end the second quarter 30-30 points.
However, the Customs Ladies took the third and final quarter to emerge champions at the well attended finals.
The final match was spiced with the best of entertainment provided in full measure by some of the best Nigerian artists like the legendary 2Face Idibia, Daddy Showkey and a host of other entertainers.
As planned, the closing ceremony for the Women’s championship which featured 16 clubs ushered in the opening ceremony for the Men’s version of Mark D Ball Tournament which dunks off today at the same venue.
According to Initiator of the Championships, Igoche Mark, the New Face of Basketball movement is geared towards revamping the fortunes of domestic basketball in Nigeria, and make sure the slam and dunk game does not hibernate or remain docile, again.
He further said the time has come for all 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.
Meanwhile, Kada Angels of Kaduna on Friday evening edged Sunshine Angels of Akure 68-66 to win the losers final, and a prize money of half a million Naira. The champions, Nigeria Customs smiles to bank with One Million Naira prize money while the runners up, First Bank got Seven hundred and fifty thousand naira.
In his speech, the initiator and sponsor of Mark D Ball Championship, Igoche Mark, said the time has come for genuine basketball stakeholders to unite in order to save the sport.
The Senator representing FCT, Senator Philip Aduda, who was among dignitaries at the finals also promised to support Igoche Mark’s laudable initiative.
