Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) celebrated a triumphant conclusion to the 2023 FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League (AWBL) on Tuesday, December 19, as they secured the championship in grand fashion.
Playing as the host, ASC emerged victorious in the 10-team event, dominating their opponents throughout the nine days of intense competition. With an impressive 7-0 record, ASC exhibited sheer dominance, defeating every adversary by an average margin of 43.8 points per game.
The Egyptian champions, former winners of the Africa Champions Cup for Women (ACCW) in 2022, showcased their prowess by averaging an outstanding 103 points per game.
Their performances were characterized by remarkable teamwork, leading the tournament with 30 assists per game and displaying defensive prowess with 15 steals on average.
The home fans witnessed a spectacular Championship Game where ASC triumphed convincingly over Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) with a final score of 103-59.
ASC’s stellar performance was duly recognized as two of their players, Cierra Dillard and Hagar Amer, earned spots on the All-Star team, with Cierra Dillard further honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
In contrast, KPA, making their debut as semifinalists at FIBA Africa competitions, secured the second position with an impressive 5-2 winning-loss ratio. Despite their commendable performance, KPA faced defeat twice at the hands of ASC.
The battle for the third spot saw Inter Clube of Angola, Africa’s most successful club, emerge victorious by defeating Rwanda Energy Group (REG) with a scoreline of 83-68. This marked a significant achievement for the Angolan champions, securing their first medal since 2016.
ASC and REG, winners of Groups A and B respectively, maintained their flawless records into the Quarter-Finals.
However, while REG faced a setback against KPA in the semifinals, ASC continued their winning streak by overpowering Inter Clube 100-74, setting the stage for a thrilling final against the Kenyan champions.
The inaugural AWBL featured representation from eight countries, including Angola, Benin, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Notably, Cameroon and Kenya each contributed two teams to the competition, while three teams – Overdose Up Station, ASPAC, and Universite de Douala – made their debut in continental competition. Additionally, Nigeria Customs made a remarkable return to FIBA competition after a hiatus of 26 years.
Find below the 2023 FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League standings:
1. Alexandria Sporting Club (7-0) – Egypt
2. Kenya Ports Authority (5-2) – Kenya
3. Inter Clube (5-2) – Angola
4. Rwanda Energy Group (5-2) – Rwanda
5. Nigeria Customs (4-3) – Nigeria
6. Equity Bank Hawks (3-4) – Kenya
7. Universite de Douala (2-5) – Cameroon
8. Overdose Up Station (1-6) – Cameroon
9. CNSS (1-4) – DR Congo
10. ASPAC (0-5) – Benin
