.Vow to bounce back stronger
NIGERIA women’s national basketball team, D'Tigress are still ruing their inability to secure a ticket to the 2016 Olympics after they finished third in Group C of the ongoing 2016 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Nantes, France.
The coach Scott Nnaji-led side’s hope of qualifying for the August’s event were dashed on Wednesday, after Korea ran out 66-65 winners against European power-house Belarus.
D’Tigress on Monday lost their first game 71-60 to Belarus but squeezed past Korea 69-70 on Tuesday with Desportivo Torres Novas of Portugal point guard, Ezinne Kalu, saving the team from the early exit with her last second three-pointer.
The team was however eliminated on points difference following Korea’s victory over the European favourites.
“It was very painful," begins D’Tigress center, Chioma Odeaja.
"The most painful part was that we were on our way to training when the game was going on. We were following the game online and when we got to the venue we have not even put on our shoes when we realised the match was over and the result was not in our favour.
"So we couldn't practice, we just went back to the bus and straight to our hotel. It was so painful, so so painful,” Chioma who plays for Zenith Women's Basketball League side, Elephant Girls, lamented.
While giving a breakdown of how the team was unexpectedly eliminated, D'Tigress forward, Ezinne Kalu-Phelps express appreciation to Nigerians for their support, promising to return stronger as they shift focus to FIBA AfroBasket Women 2017.
“PSA!!!! So let me explain how this works!! We (Nigeria) lost to Belarus by 11pts, that put us at -11 on the POINT SCALE and Belarus at +11 on the point scale. When we beat Korea by 1 point last night (70-69), that put us at -10 on the point scale and Korea at -1 on the point scale!
“Now, in order for us(Nigeria) to make it to the quarter-finals, Belarus MUST BEAT Korea or Korea must beat Belarus by AT LEAST 22pts!! If Korea beats Belarus by anything LESS THAN 22pts, we(Nigeria) will NOT move on to the quarter-final round to qualify for the Olympics in Rio.... UNFORTUNATELY, Korea has beaten Belarus by 1 point, that puts Korea at 0 on the point scale (-1 + 1), and Nigeria still at -10 on the point scale, therefore our journey has come to an end.
“You have not seen that last of NIGERIA! Thanks everyone so very much for your support!! It is greatly appreciated!! �� ," the Savannah State alumna posted on her Facebook wall.
Nigeria has only made one appearance in the women’s basketball event of the Olympics. They appeared for the first time at Athens 2004.
No comments:
Post a Comment