Basketball in Africa

HOTSHOTS are in their first final this year and they badly want the women’s Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup to close the 2006 season on a good note. On Monday November 20 at Victoria Gymnasium, HotShots won game two to seal the best-of-three semifinal series against Cadettes.Unlike in game one when they almost received a slap in the face from Cadettes but still won 50-41, HotShots made a strong start in game two and built on their advantage to win 70-35.
Still without injured centre Tina Agathine, who is expected to be fit to help Myra Solin in the paint in the best-of-three final beginning Saturday December 2, HotShots, third finishers in this year’s Women’s League behind champions Stars and runners-up Bel Air, dominated all four quarters – 19-7, 25-10, 14-11 and 12-7 –, thus allowing Cadettes to score just half of their own points total.
Under the captaincy of Myra Solin, who was playing only her third match after having served a lengthy ban for not attending training with the country’s women’s selection, HotShots had all their starters scoring in double digits for 62 of the team’s 70 points.
Jenita Toussaint, who had a spell with Bel Air before moving back to HotShots this year, led all scores with a game-high 14 points including one 3-pointer. Myra Solin (13), Brenda Arissol (13), Beguitta Fontaine (12) and Samia Asba (10) were the other players in double figures for HotShots.

Anse Boileau-based HotShots, who killed off League champions Anse Etoile Stars’ double hope with a 52-41 win in the earlier round, are ready to face either Mont Fleuri or Bel Air in the final.
Speaking to Sports Nation after Monday’s game two win, skipper Solin said that “we are ready for the final and we don’t have a preference for either Mont Fleuri or Bel Air. Whoever qualify for the final, we will come out strong against them.”
As for coach Philip Arissol, he said that HotShots would have already won at least one of the titles this year had his top player Solin not been handed the lengthy ban.
With 11 individual points, Kathleena Pouponeau again led Cadettes in scoring, while the team got a combined 20 points from the four other starters – Julietta Agathine (7 points), Lilianne Biong (5), captain Zerah Fontaine (5 points) and Sandra Hoareau (3 points).
Coached by the duo of Steve Hoareau and Patricia Samynadin, Cadettes got their four other points from Shakira Port-Louis.
Meanwhile, the other women’s finalists could be decided tomorrow when Bel Air and Mont Fleuri meet in game two of their best-of-three semifinal series.
Top-of-the-table losing finalists Mont Fleuri edged Bel Air 63-62 in game one and a win tomorrow will push them into the final. As for Bel Air, they need a win to stave off elimination and force a decisive game three scheduled for Sunday at Victoria Gymnasium, starting at 2 p.m.
It is to note that with Stars being eliminated, a new women’s SBF Cup champion will be crowned at the end of the competition.