Although it wasn’t very pretty for either team as they did not win the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup finals in overwhelming manner, they played like true champions on Saturday at the Palais des Sports to cap a successful 2010 season
While HotShots won back to back league and cup double with a 49-47 win over Mont Fleuri, PLS Hawks celebrated a fourth double achievement in 10 years after outlasting 2009 champions Baya 72-67.
Coach Clifford Joubert has been the architect of three of the double achievements in 2001, 2005 and 2010, while Tony Juliette guided the team to a double victory in 2007.
HotShots win on last shot
With power forward Myra Solin playing little spells because of a thigh injury, HotShots were in trouble against a revamped Mont Fleuri as they trailed11-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Although they outscored Mont Fleuri 11-4 in the second quarter to tie that score at 22-22 at half-time, they went into the fourth quarter trailing by three – 29-32 – as the Mont Fleurians once again took command in the third which they won 10-7.
With 2 minutes 40 seconds (2:40) gone in the fourth quarter, HotShots were in deep trouble as they trailed Mont Fleuri by 10 – 31-41 – after Burtina Désir scored on a lay-up.
HotShots then held Mont Fleuri scoreless for almost four minutes as they cut the deficit to two – 39-41– on two Tina Agathine lay-ups and two free-throws and two more shots from the stripes by Solin.
Veteran Williana Dubois, who finished as Mont Fleuri’s top scorer with 10 points, hit two free-throws with 3:17 left and centre Lindy Aglaé scored with a shot off the glass as the Mont Fleurians enjoyed a six-point lead at 45-39.
Then Beguitta Fontaine got two big treys and Jenita Toussaint made two of three free-throws after being fouled by Désir on a 3-point attempt. With 45 seconds left to play, HotShots led 47-45, but Mont Fleuri again pulled level at 47-47 on Canadian Paddye Magill’s free-throws with 36 seconds to go.
It took a baseline jumper by Toussaint with 12.2 seconds left to win it for HotShots, who saluted their fans after the come-from-behind win.
Fontaine led all scores with 16 points, including five treys, while centre Agathine, who was voted best female basketballer of the year, added14. Toussaint made an 11-point contribution as the trio combined for 41 of their team’s 49 points.
“We are happy to have achieved a second consecutive league and cup double,” HotShots coach Philip Arissol told Sports Nation before thanking all their loyal supporters and all those who have helped them in every way to achieve big things this year.
Coach Arissol, who is also the Seychelles team head coach, added that his team have to train harder next year to match Mont Fleuri’s revival.
“Mont Fleuri have made a big improvement in their play and we have to double our efforts next year if we want to defend all the titles we have won,” he added.
Hawk Lozé comes up big
With last year’s hero Steve ‘Biko’ Denis struggling with his long-range shooting, Baya knew they were in trouble against PLS Hawks who wanted to make them surrender the SBF Cup to complete a double.
After trailing the Hawks 4-11, Baya sent Dave Roseline into play and he scored seven quick points to help his team take a one-point – 18-17 – lead into the second quarter and at half-time the score was tied at 37-37.
PLS Hawks outscored Baya in the third and fourth quarters – 17-15 and 18-15 – for a deserved 72-67 victory. But they were helped by some poor play by Baya players who really lost the plot in the final 48 seconds when they trailed by one point –67-68 – after veteran Jim Domingue had scored on a lay-up.
Despite coach Michel Malbrook taking a time-out to work out his team’s tactics, when his players returned to the court, they rushed play, turned the ball three times and pointed fingers at each other after every mistake.
It was a rather poor finish for Baya who got 18 points from centre Robert Léon, including a monster slam in traffic with 2:42 left in the first quarter. Roseline added 11 before fouling out and Denis finished with 10.
Despite Baya not playing their best, PLS Hawks should be congratulated for their performance as the extra motivation to complete another double made them come out to win and to a certain extent prove some people wrong.
They pulled off the victory with a good defensive effort late in the game, and with player of the year Bernard Bristol organising their play, it was left to the others to make the runs to the basket. Centre Rodney Lozé really understood that really well with his game-leading 28 points and Nigerian Alao Solomon got 21.
Speaking to Sports Nation, Bristol said: “This is great!”
“It has been a good season and we should be wary of our opponents next year as they will be coming all out to wrestle the titles from our grasps. But it’s up to us to work hard in training to defend those titles.”
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Basketball Hall of fame for the year 2010
. Men’s division two league champions: Drifters
. Men’s division two league runners-up: Praslin Warriors
. Women’s league champions: HotShots
. Women’s league champions: Mont Fleuri
. Men’s division one league champions: PLS Hawks
. Men’s division one league runners-up: Premium Cobras
. Women’s SBF Cup champions: HotShots
. Women’s SBF Cup runners-up: Mont Fleuri
. Men’s SBF Cup champions: PLS Hawks
. Men’s SBF Cup runners-up: Baya
. Female junior player of the year: Irene Bau (Juniors)
. Male junior player of the year: Ron Estico (Juniors and PLS Hawks)
. Female player of the year: Tina Agathine (HotShots)
. Male player of the year: Bernard Bristol (PLS Hawks)
. Special Award for oldest female player in view of long contribution to basketball in Seychelles: Lina Lestrange (RA Sisters)
. Special Award for oldest male player in view of long contribution to basketball in Seychelles: Jim Domingue (PLS Hawks)
G. G.