Gazelles’ Jannon Otto won two accolades as the curtains came down on the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket in Kigali, Rwanda.
Otto was awarded the tournament’s top-scorer and also in the best team of the tournament as the best Small Forward.
She tallied 128 points in Uganda’s six games, averaging 21.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Otto commented: “I just want to thank my teammates really, I feel like they were the ones behind the scenes; they gave me the ball, put me in the right positions, then also our Coaches for trusting me and of course thanks to all of the fans, thanks for the support you gave us. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I think I just wanted to win, I was trying to help the team win games and that is how that came about for me to finish as top-scorer, and I think I did well as the team won three of them.”
Her performance was outstanding as the Gazelles finished seventh, the team’s best ever finish on the Continent.
“This is a young team, it’s everyone’s first Afrobasket except for Flirsh (Flavia Oketcho), and this experience is important for us and we hope to comeback next year and achieve even more. We have the potential.”
Nigeria’s Amy Okonkwo was named MVP after helping Nigeria clinch the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, their fourth in a row).
Cierra Dillard (Senegal), Sika Kone (Mali) and Tamara Seda (Mozambique) were also named in the team of the tournament.
The best rebounder of the tournament went to Seda (Mozambique), Nigeria’s Taiwo Olaluwatomi took the best three pointer award while Rwanda was given the Fair Play Award.
Nigeria was crowned champions for a fourth straight tournament after beating Senegal 84-74 in an epic final.
Mali finished third following their 89-51 demolition of hosts Rwanda in the Bronze medal match.
Earlier, Mozambique beat Cameroon 74-65 to finish fifth while Uganda proved too good for Guinea, 85-44, to take the seventh place.
2023 Women’s Afrobasket – Standings:
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Mali
- Rwanda
- Mozambique
- Cameroon
- Uganda
- Guinea
- Egypt
- Angola
- Cote d’Ivoire
- DR Congo
