Lome Hosts FIBA Zone 3 Basketball Championships

The Federation Interna
tional Basketball Associations (FIBA)’s 2016 Africa Zone 3 Basketball Championships Cup for men and women is scheduled to hold in Lome, Togo.
Joe Apu, the media representative for the zone, told mewsmen yesterday in Lagos that the championships would take place between October 21 and October 30.
Apu confirmed that the competition would serve as the qualifications for the FIBA Africa Club Championships.
He listed countries expected to compete for honours at the competition to include teams from Ghana, Republic of Benin, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Liberia and Niger Republic.
“Togo will be hosting this year’s event and so far, all representing teams have received the venue and dunk off dates of the competition.
“As usual, the competition will serve as the qualifications for the FIBA Africa Champions Cup which is expected to crown the best clubs for men and women in the continent.
“The venue and dates for the FIBA Africa Club Championships is, however, yet to be confirmed,’’ Apu said.
According to him, the FIBA Zone Three boss, Col. Sam Ahmedu (rtd), is excited about Togo, stepping up to host this year’s championships.
Apu said that the zone would work closely with the Togolese Federation to ensure a hitch-free tournament.
Our source reports that Nigeria’s Kano Pillars and Customs of Lagos will represent Nigeria at the competition in the men’s category, while the First Bank and Dolphins, both of Lagos, are listed for the women’s event.
The best two teams from the men and the women’s tournament in the zone will qualify for FIBA Africa Club Cup to crown the best teams in the continent.
The FIBA Zone 3 championships has always been dominated by teams from Nigeria, while Petro Atletico of Angola is the defending champion for men.
Petro Atletico claimed its second ever title defeating fellow Angola Club, Recreativo do Libolo, 89-75 in Luanda, Angola to claim the 2015 edition.
Primeiro de Agosto of Angola is the highest winner of the men’s event, having won it for eight times, while no Nigeria club is yet to ever win the men’s category of the competition.
In the women’ category, Primeiro de Agosto Angola defeated Interclube Club of Angola, 69-53 to win the 2015 event.
Nigeria’s First Bank of Lagos finished as third place winners in the 2015 edition but it won the competition in 2003 and 2009.