Police VI Edge Stars In Five Set Thriller
Tumelo Mouwane | Monday June 13, 2016 14:34
Police VI dominated the first set and led 17-14 when the first time was called.
Ramotswa side, Spiking Stars appeared in a state of confusion as the one-sided set approached its end. However, Spiking Stars attempted to respond and scored four points to close the gap to 22-18. But Police VI finished stronger and wrapped up the set 25-18.
Kesaobaka Mudongo’s stinging spikes gave Spiking stars the edge in the opening minutes of the second stanza as they raced to a 8-5 lead. The Ramotswa side, through Bampoluki Letshwiti, nailed the 10th point before a short break was called when Stars were 10-5 ahead. The Cops made a rapid comeback to remarkably equalise to 12-12 as Stars’ confidence began to dip midway the second set. The clash intensified as the set fluctuated, 12-13 in favour of the Cops, then went to 18-18, as the two pounded each other. However, the Cops moved to a 23-21 lead before time out was called when Police VI were leading 24-21.
After the quick break, Phenyo Lekoko gave the Cops a free point to seal the set 25-21 after a hard hitting spike, which meant Police VI had bagged the first two sets.
Stars began the third set the same way they had started the second, establishing a 9-4 lead before the set’s first time out.
As the game seemed to get out of the Cops control, Police’s Goitseone Joseph hit the deck hard trying to defend their lead.
Towards the end of the set, Police VI lost composure, trailing 18-13 and managed to regroup to reduce the margin to 22-19 before the set ended 25-19 in favour of Stars.
The intriquing fixture went an extra mile to the fourth set, where both teams came strong, which saw the pendulum swing both ways. The score progressed from 4-4, 5-4, 7-7, 9-9, 10-10 before the Ramotswa side increased their lead to 14-10 as confusion crept into the Cops’ camp. But they bounced back to reduce the margin to 15-14.
The scuffle intensified as Police VI tried to secure the set and win the game, but Stars were unyielding. Letshwiti blocked several of Police VI attempts and Stars won 25-16 to move the game to a deciding fifth set. The final set was more intense as both teams gave their all. Stars led 12-7, but the cops made an astonishing comeback to win the set 25-15.
Stars head coach, Kealeboga Mmekwane was not impressed with his team’s performance.
“I am so disappointed and hurt because we worked hard to equalise and sadly we lost the game when we were supposed to win. My players were overwhelmed by excitement and they lost focus towards the end of the deciding set,” Mmekwane said.
Police VI head coach, Shimaka Ngwaoetsile said his team did not win as he had wanted.
“Yes we won, but we did not play well as we had planned for the game, especially in the last three sets, but I kept on encouraging the boys that we can win,” Ngwaoetsile said.
In other games, Kutlwano beat Prisons 3-0, while BDF VI thrashed Desert Kings 3-0 before Kutlhwano saw off BDF VI 3-2.