D’Tigress Rally Past Philippines 101-84 with Second-Half Surge in Villeurbanne
Nigeria overturned a halftime deficit to defeat the Philippines 101-84 in Group A of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Villeurbanne, France, on Saturday.
The Philippines led for more than 22 minutes and built a 10-point cushion in the first half, but Nigeria seized control after the break. The contest featured 12 lead changes before Nigeria pulled away in the final quarter with a decisive 9-0 run.
With NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida in the stands, Victoria Macaulay anchored Nigeria’s turnaround, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two blocks.
Murjanatu Musa added 10 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists, while Nicole Enabosi contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds. Elizabeth Balogun and Ifunanya Okoro provided key scoring bursts during Nigeria’s third-quarter rally.
For the Philippines, Janine Pontejos led with 16 points, including an eight-point surge late in the second quarter. Kacey Dela Rosa chipped in with five points during a first-quarter run that briefly gave the Philippines control.
Nigeria’s most effective lineup, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Macaulay, Balogun, and Musa, posted a +12 plus-minus in nearly 16 minutes together, revealing the team’s depth and balance.
