Defending champion of FIBA Africa Champions Club Zone-3, Kano Pillars basketball club of Nigeria Tuesday began its quest for a place in the final round of the continent biggest club competition with an 85-53 points win over NPA Pythons basketball club of Liberia.
The Nigeria league champion won its opening Zone-3 qualifiers series against the Liberian side winning in all four quarters of 22-13; 24-15; 17-15 and 22-10.
In the last Day-1 pairing Abidjan Basket Club of Cote d’Ivoire went past Swallows basketball club of Togo by 60-41.
The Abidjan-based side won the first quarter by 16-12 points but gave up the second quarter to the Togolese side who won the quarter by 14-10 points to even scores 26-26 at the end of the first half.
At the resumption of play in the third quarter, ABC showed the stuff it is made up of pilling up offense and defense on their opponent winning the third and fourth quarter by 17-10 and 17-05.
ABC will Wednesday confront Liberia champion and host of the qualifiers, UHURU Kings basketball club of Liberia at 19H00.
The first game of Day-2 will be between Liberia NPA Pythons and Nigeria Royal Hoopers at 15H00.