FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Group Stage: Nigeria Women 101-84 Philippines Women. Nigeria's "D'Tigress" opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 101-84 victory over the Philippines in a game that tipped off at 21:00. The African champions used their athleticism and pace to overwhelm their opponents, sending a strong message to the rest of their group. Nigeria burst out of the gates, using their defensive pressure to create easy fast-break opportunities and build a substantial early lead. The Philippines, making a historic World Cup appearance, showed great heart and shooting touch to keep within striking distance in the second quarter, led by their star guard. However, Nigeria's depth and physicality proved too much in the second half. A 15-2 run to start the third quarter, fueled by consecutive steals and finishes at the rim, effectively put the game out of reach. The standout performance came from Nigeria's center, who recorded a double-double with dominant play in the paint. This victory is crucial for Nigeria's hopes of advancing from a competitive group, while the Philippines will look to bounce back in their subsequent matches. Nigeria's coach praised her team's start: "Our energy was the key. We wanted to set the tone defensively, and we did." The Philippines' coach remained optimistic: "We showed we can score at this level. We need to work on sustaining our defensive effort for forty minutes."