Oliver Albert
The Citizen Correspondent
Dar es Salaam. The defending champions of the Dar es Salaam’s RBA League, Savio, got their title defence off to a flying start on Sunday after shoving off Pazi opposition to record a 49-32 win at the National Indoor Stadium.
Savio, who won a treble last season, embarked on the game on a low tempo with their inspirational pointer George Tarimo looking terribly out of sorts.
Tarimo, renowned for burying the baskets, failed to convert three clear-cut chances and struggled to clear rebounds severally.
Both sides finished the first quarter tied at 10-10.
The reigning champions returned into the second quarter strongly with rookie Joas Allen displaying stupendous skills that helped his team take a 19-15 lead.
Having enjoyed a lion’s share of possession in the second quarter, Savio lost steam in the third quarter, thus allowing Pazi to dictate the pace.
However, despite taking the game to the flamboyant champions, Pazi’s inept finishing cost them dearly.
Savio guard Jije Makani was the man to lavish all praise on after labouring relentlessly to clear 10 rebounds, which kept his team leading 32-24.
Determined to level the matter in the final quarter, Pazi poured forward deftly, but they only managed to add eight points while their opponents buried 17 to wrap up the victory.
“It was a good start to the season, we started the game on a low note, but we managed to reorganise ourselves to post the victory,” Savio’s ace player Mohamed Yusuf said ecstatically.
He added: “We are happy that our rookies coped with the pace of the RBA League and I hope that they will get even better with time.”
The league will swing back into action on Saturday with ABC facing off Airwing. On the same day, women’s teams, Vijana Queens will battle it out against Cargo ladies while Police Dar will entertain CMTU.