Sports
D’Tigress Rally from Halftime Deficit to Crush Philippines 101–84 in FIBA World Cup Qualifier
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, Nigeria women’s national basketball team, popularly known as D’Tigress, staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat the Philippines women’s national basketball team 101–84 in their latest game at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament.
The African champions trailed 51–42 at halftime, struggling to contain the Philippines’ fast-paced offense during the opening two quarters. However, D’Tigress returned from the break with renewed intensity and completely flipped the game in the third quarter.
Nigeria dominated the period 34–21, taking control of the contest with aggressive defense, improved shooting, and quick transitions. The momentum carried into the final quarter as the team pulled away comfortably to secure a 17-point victory.
Star forward Murjanatu Musa delivered a standout performance, scoring 24 points to earn the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the match. Her offensive dominance and leadership on the court proved crucial in Nigeria’s comeback.
D’Tigress were clinical offensively, finishing the game with 47 percent shooting from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent accuracy from three-point range.
The victory was also historic for Nigeria, marking their first 100-point game in seven years, highlighting the team’s attacking strength and depth.
With the result, D’Tigress have now secured two wins from three matches in the qualifying tournament and will next face the host nation, France women’s national basketball team, in what promises to be a crucial encounter.
The clash against France is expected to test Nigeria’s resilience as the team pushes for a strong finish in the qualifiers.
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