MFM Women Basketball Club and Bayelsa Whales are through to the finals 4 of the 2023 Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League slated for Lagos after emerging first and runners-up respectively in the just-concluded second phase of the Atlantic Conference in Asaba, Delta State.
MFM ladies were in third position going to the second phase with First Bank and Bayelsa Whales ahead of them, but everything turned around in Asaba, as they won all their five matches, beating both First Bank and Bayelsa Whales to emerge the best team in Atlantic Conference.
First Bank was the most disappointing side of the second phase, winning just one game and they failed to qualify for the finals while Bayelsa Whales joined MFM for a shot at the title in Lagos.
Speaking with our correspondent, a player of the MFM team, Favour Eric, said they really worked hard to achieve their goal of making it to the finals.
MFM, created a few years ago, will be making their second appearance in the finals while Bayelsa Whales, formed less than a year ago, will be making their first appearance at the finals.
Last edition’s champions, Air Warriors and former champions, Nigerian Customs, already qualified from the Savannah Conference and the four will battle for the coveted trophy at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, later in the month.
Sponsors, Zenith Bank Plc, and the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBF) have declared their readiness for the finals, which will involve just the best four teams rather than eight teams as it used to be in the past.