Nigeria’s D’Tigress Rebound from South Korea Loss with Convincing 101–84 Victory Over Philippines
Nigeria’s D’Tigress delivered a statement victory on Saturday, overturning a halftime deficit to beat the Philippines 101–84 in Lyon.
The qualifying game marked a strong rebound for the African champions after their loss to South Korea, giving Nigeria a 2–1 record in the race for a place at the World Cup.
The game began poorly for Nigeria as the Philippines set the pace early, winning the first quarter 26–21 with confident ball movement and accurate outside shooting.
Nigeria struggled to find rhythm, committing turnovers and leaving gaps in defense. By halftime, the Filipinas had extended their lead to 51–42, raising fears they could pull away.
However, the momentum shifted after the break as D’Tigress returned with renewed energy, pressing higher and moving the ball better on offense.
The third quarter proved decisive, with Nigeria pouring in 34 points through aggressive drives and second-chance opportunities to overturn the deficit and take a 76–72 lead.
Murjanatu Musa and Nicole Enabosi led the charge in the final quarter, helping Nigeria dominate rebounds and transition play while their defense shut down the Philippines’ comeback attempts.
Nigeria eventually crossed the 100-point mark for the first time in years, sealing a convincing win and turning their focus to the next challenge against host nation France in the battle for a World Cup spot.
