Makeshift indoor facility for basketball finals

Thato Kala | Sunday December 8, 2013 20:47

Last weekend’s semi-finals were disrupted by the rains and had to overlap to Wednesday.

The game between Dolphins and Spartans had to be replayed on Sunday after it was stopped due to the rains, pushing forward the decisive Game Threes for both men and women. 

Former champions BDF V secured a final berth after beating UB Relics 70-59 on Wednesday and will now face Police V in a repeat of last season. BBA spokesperson James Kalebwe said Game One of the final would be played at BNYC.

“They have two courts and an indoor facility that can be transformed into an indoor court. The hoops are mobile so we are moving them indoors and marking the courts today,” Kalebwe told Mmegi Sport. While Police V will be looking to complete a double over the army side, Troopers will be out for revenge after handing over the title to Spartans last season. This time Troopers will be without their forward, Philani Ncube, who is struggling with a back injury. Ncube believes they will take their 2013 form into the finals. Troopers only lost one game throughout the season, compared to last season’s six losses.

“Our track record points that this time we are winning it. We conceded six losses last season and went on to lose the title to Spartans but have only lost once this time. We are more focused, we have depth and our players are very experienced. I do not see us going down,” Ncube said.

But Spartans will draw confidence from the fact that they handed Troopers their only defeat of the season. They will be banking on trump card, Peter Ubakar. And Troopers probably remember Ubakar’s dunk that sunk them in last year’s final. Ubakar is not their only threat, as Spartans also have last year’s Most Valuable Player of the tournament, Clive Phiri. The ladies’ final starts off tonight at 6pm with the men’s final set for two hours later. The second games will be played on Saturday. Police V and national team star Endie Banyaditse is confident that they will repeat last year’s feat by beating their rivals.

“We are definitely winning it because we have prepared well. We really pushed ourselves and I feel we are ready,” she said. All eyes will be on netball star, Hilda Binang, who featured for BDF V last weekend.