Africa Women's Basketball League Team Preview: Customs

In-Form Customs Ready To Blaze A New Trail

Numerous professional basketball players emphasise the significance of taking breaks between "seasons" to facilitate physical and mental recovery. However, they also acknowledge that an extended "offseason" presents challenges in returning to optimal game shape upon resuming play. 

Conversely, a brief "offseason" introduces its own set of issues, providing players with limited time for recovery while simultaneously enabling them to sustain optimal game shape. 

For the reigning 2023 Zenith Basketball League champions, Customs, the brief period between the FIBA Zone 3 AWBL qualifiers and the commencement of the Africa Women’s Basketball League season is seen as an opportunity to maintain peak game form. 

The women’s programme of the club, affectionately known as ‘The Boarder Girls,’ completed their AWBL qualifying rounds on 6^th December and less than 48 hours later jumped on a five-hour flight north to Cairo, Egypt. Customs are planning to capitalise on this short turnaround to sustain their optimal performance levels as they transition swiftly into the start of the inaugural Africa Women’s Basketball League season. 

The in-form Lagos-based club steps into the new AWBL season after two straight impressive victories during their qualifiers. First, The Boarder Girls dominated Benin league champs ASPAC 65-48 and followed it up with a low-scoring and hard-fought victory over MFM Queens 55-49.

Recent signing African-American guard Maranne Johnson commented on why the quick turnaround is a positive thing for the ambitious squad:

“We just came from playing the qualifiers, and that acts as part of our preparation for the continental games. We will come out to compete in each game, play for one another and give it our all.”