By Chinwe Okeke

The 13 Zenith Bank Women Basketball League ended Friday with fanfare. First Bank, the Elephant Girls dethroned the erstwhile defending champions, Dolphins 71- 60 in a pulsating final that had all the trappings of a great fixture.

The two teams entertained and gave the packed full hall enough to cheer. While Dolphins appeared more entertaining and skilful, the First Bank ladies were more direct and attacking conscious. From the onset, they left no one in doubt as to what their mission was; they needed the trophy and reclaim their place in Nigerian women basketball. That they achieved with aplomb.

Earlier, the Nigeria Customs team defeated IGP Queens 61-3 in the losers final to win the 3rd place.

The fair play award went to plateau Rocks of Jos that emerged as the best behaved team even as their player, Ene Edem emerged as the highest rebounder of the entire championship.

Former four-times most valuable player award winner, Nkechi Akashili of First Bank, bounced back to reckoning as she emerged she most valuable player of the 2016 edition. Juliet Currency of dethroned Dolphins won the best 3 point shooter award.

The new champions, First Bank dominated the list of the best five players of the tournament by contributing four out of the five names listed.