D’Tigress beat S/Korea to keep Olympics hopes alive

D’Tigress forward Ezinne Kalu-Phelps made a big 3 point shot with only four seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Nigeria a vital win against South Korea at the World Women Olympic qualifying tournament in France yesterday.
The Scott Nnaji led team triumphed over the Koreans 70-69 to keep alive the hope of progressing to the quarter-finals after Monday’s 60-71 loss to Belarus in the group C opener.
Nigeria had to at least win one game in the group, and win two more in the final Phase, before they could secure a place in Rio Olympics.
According to the senior female national basketball team’s media officer, Rotimi Ade qualification is not yet guaranteed as the Women Afrobasket finalists’ fate will still be determined by the outcome of the Korea against Belarus fixture today.
“Big shot from Ezinne Kalu, dancing time but qualification to the next round still not guaranteed, we have to wait for the outcome of the Belarus/Korea game,” Ade wrote on twitter immediately after the game.
The turning point in yesterday’s game was when Kalu converted a three-point play with two minutes fifty one seconds remaining but that was just the beginning of a stretch that saw four lead-changes until the final buzzer sounded.
By scoring 11 points off the bench for Nigeria, Kalu not only turned out to be a game-changer but also her team’s new hero considering a defeat would’ve certainly dumped them out of running for the Olympics in Rio.
D’Tigress last played in the Olympics in 2004, and in order to reach this year’s Games they will need to claim one of the five places at stake in Nantes, the tournament ends on Sunday.
Source: Nigeria had to at least win one game in the group, and win two more in the final Phase, before they could secure a place in Rio Olympics.
According to the senior female national basketball team’s media officer, Rotimi Ade qualification is not yet guaranteed as the Women Afrobasket finalists’ fate will still be determined by the outcome of the Korea against Belarus fixture today.
“Big shot from Ezinne Kalu, dancing time but qualification to the next round still not guaranteed, we have to wait for the outcome of the Belarus/Korea game,” Ade wrote on twitter immediately after the game.
The turning point in yesterday’s game was when Kalu converted a three-point play with two minutes fifty one seconds remaining but that was just the beginning of a stretch that saw four lead-changes until the final buzzer sounded.
By scoring 11 points off the bench for Nigeria, Kalu not only turned out to be a game-changer but also her team’s new hero considering a defeat would’ve certainly dumped them out of running for the Olympics in Rio.
D’Tigress last played in the Olympics in 2004, and in order to reach this year’s Games they will need to claim one of the five places at stake in Nantes, the tournament ends on Sunday.
SOURCE /www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/sports/d-tigress-beat-s-korea-to-keep-olympics-hopes-alive/151116.html#4iX8IfrvGzuFuYXg.99