Date: 2018-10-08

Kwara Falcons came back from the dead to edge out Hoops N Read in the second semi-final match of the 2018 Kwese Basketball League Final 8 competition on Saturday night.

The team from Kwara state now joins Gombe Bulls as the two representatives of Nigeria in next year's FIBA-Africa club Championship.

Hoops N Read, who have been in scintillating form throughout the competition, were the favourites to scale through to the final but the team from Kwara had their plans.

Hoops took the lead from the onset, winning the first quarter 21-15, second quarter 41-31 and third quarter 60-59.

However, Falcons ran riots on their opponents in the final quarter of the match to steal a victory after topping the score chat 78-76 at the end of the match.

Mustapha Oyebanji was the star man for the Falcons as he garnered 25 points, the highest in the match, to help his side edge out the young Hoops N Read side. The captain of the team, Johnson Anaiye, also contributed 23 points.

Kwara Falcons will now lock horns with the bullish Gombe Bulls in the final to be decided on Monday night at the Indoor Sports Hall of Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

Hoops will take their frustration on Kano Pillars in the third place match that will be played Monday afternoon at same venue.