Dolphins Survive Royal Aces Scare to Revive Title Defence

Posted : 11 September 2026

Dolphins Basketball Club breathed new life into their second-phase campaign of the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League after holding off a determined Royal Aces side 55–53 in Port Harcourt.

The defending champions were pushed to the limit throughout the encounter at the Basketball Stadium but showed enough composure in the closing stages to secure their first victory of the phase.

Neither side could establish an early advantage, with the opening quarter ending 15–15 as Royal Aces matched Dolphins basket for basket.

Dolphins gained a slight edge in the second quarter, tightening their defence and improving their offensive execution to win the period 13–9 and take a 28–24 lead into halftime.

Royal Aces responded strongly after the interval, refusing to allow the champions to pull away.

They won the third quarter 14–11, reducing Dolphins’ advantage to a single point at 39–38 and setting up a tense final period.

The fourth quarter lived up to expectations as both teams traded baskets in a frantic finish.

Dolphins managed to stay in front, narrowly taking the quarter 16–15 to preserve their two-point advantage at the final buzzer.

Combo guard Biola Moses provided a crucial moment for the champions when she converted a decisive free throw late in the game, helping Dolphins withstand Royal Aces’ final push.

The victory is particularly significant for Dolphins, whose young squad was assembled just four days before the commencement of the second phase.

The champions had struggled to find their rhythm in their earlier games, making the hard-earned victory over Royal Aces a potentially important turning point in their title defence.

Elsewhere, Bayelsa Blue Whales defeated First Deep Water 36–26, while First Bank produced the day’s biggest margin of victory, overwhelming I.G.P. Queens 100–29.

MFM Basketball Club also secured an 80–58 victory over Victoria Queens after surviving a spirited challenge from their opponents.

Victoria Queens made history by becoming the first team in the phase to lead MFM during a game, but the Lagos-based side eventually asserted their superiority in the final quarter.

With the second phase concluding today, Dolphins will face First Deep Water in the third game of the day, seeking another victory to build momentum after their breakthrough against Royal Aces.

I.G.P. Queens will meet Royal Aces in the opening game, followed by Victoria Queens against Bayelsa Blue Whales.

Dolphins will then take on First Deep Water, while MFM and First Bank will bring the phase to a close in a heavyweight encounter.

Dolphins Survive Royal Aces Scare to Revive Title Defence

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