But for a late surge from Kwara Falcons, Nigerian basketball team with base in north central of the country, the Swallows of Togo would have carried the day late Wednesday at the ongoing West Africa Basketball Classics in Lome.
It was a big scare for the Nigerian team right in Lome, Wednesday night.
But the Nigerian team won 70 -62.
Kwara Falcons were slow to come out of the blocks from Jumpball, allowing Swallows to dominate territories, possession and pace which culminated in a 10 point deficit at half time (30 – 40) after the first quarter ended 12 – 27 in favour of Swallows.
Coach Baba Jubril side continue to play catch up till the last quarter before a strong offensive and defensive display saw them tied the game 54 – 54 with five minutes left on the clock.
From that moment the Falcons never looked back, eventually coasting home to victory in a keenly contested game.
Farouq Audu, was the bulwark for Falcons with 22 points while Daniel Ikhelo and Dennis Bormini added 12 and 10 points respectively.
The win marks the club second victory in three games.
Falcon had beaten GRA Braves of Ghana 71-65 on matchday one before a 65 – 83 loss to Gidi giants of Lagos on matchday two.
The first phase of the championship comes to an end on Thursday with Falcons playing ASPAC of Benin Republic by 5:30 pm Nigeria time.
According to the organisers, the second phase is expected to start by April, 2024 in Benin Republic
The West Africa Basketball Classics is a regional basketball tournament that features teams from West African countries competing against each other.
The tournament aims to promote and develop basketball in the region, as well as provide a platform for players to showcase their skills.
The tournament typically features teams from countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Mali, among others.
It is often held in different host countries each year, with games played in various cities across the region.
The West Africa Basketball Classics has grown in popularity in recent years, attracting both local and international attention.
It has also helped to raise the profile of basketball in West Africa and has provided opportunities for players to gain exposure and potentially further their careers in the sport.