KBA League back in action
Basketball
The Wolves beat the Raiders in the clash between last year's finalists.
The Khomas Basketball Association’s KBA League returned with a long-awaited weekend of thrilling basketball action. The highly anticipated "Super Friday" kicked off proceedings with a series of electrifying Premier League matchups.
Super Friday Highlights:
• UNAM Penguins vs UNAM Cadets (men): The weekend began with the UNAM Penguins securing a commanding 64-48 victory over the UNAM Cadets. The Penguins got the upper hand during the second half, showcasing their offensive prowess and solid defence.
• Atlantic Storms vs UNAM Phoenix (women): The Atlantic Storms put up a valiant fight, but ultimately fell to the back-to-back Premier League champions, UNAM Phoenix, by a ten-point margin (55-65). The Phoenix demonstrated why they are the reigning champions, with a well-coordinated team effort.
• UNAM Wolves vs UNAM Raiders (men): The most anticipated match-up of the night was the fierce internal rivalry between UNAM Wolves and UNAM Raiders. The Wolves emerged victorious, defeating the Raiders 81-64, and now lead the seasonal rivalry 2-1. The Raiders won the KBA men’s premier league last year, beating the Wolves in the final.
Saturday Showdowns:
• The NUST Gladiators clinched their first victory of the season (63-45) against Team Allies. This win marks a significant milestone for the Gladiators after the league's reconstruction, placing them in the men’s 2nd Division.
• The Plaza Warriors were dealt their first loss of the season, falling to the BAS Vikings 47-75. The Warriors' undefeated streak came to an end as the Vikings delivered a dominant performance.
Women's Premier League:
• The UNAM Wildcats suffered a 46-61 defeat against the BAS Vikings, while the Ongos Shooting Stars triumphed over the Legends by a decisive 68-35 margin.
Sunday Thrillers:
• The weekend concluded with a nail-biting premier league match as Quality Basketball Club edged out Afro Stars 70-60. The match was marred by the ejection of Guilherme Costa (jersey nr. 8) with 1 minute 40 seconds left on the clock after receiving two consecutive technical fouls.
Costa's ejection, following a hustle play, was a critical turning point in the game, which some argue cost Afro Stars the win.
• The NUST Blues faced a heavy loss against the UNAM Wolves (43-78) which places the Blues at the bottom of the men’s premier league standings.
• Men’s Division 2: Afro Stars II dominated Lions BC (76-53), while TBA Dynasty emerged victorious over Leopards BC (63-52).
The KBA League's return has been nothing short of exhilarating, with memorable highlights from every game. Anticipation builds for the upcoming fixtures as the season advances.