10 July 2008
ZIMBABWE : JBC Fall to Despotivo Maputo
by Albert Marufu
Maputo, Mozambique
ZIMBABWE'S representatives in the women's Zone Six Africa Basketball Club preliminary qualifiers JBC made life difficult for themselves after falling 56-95 to Mozambique's Despotivo Maputo at Estrela Vermelha Sports Club here on Tuesday night.
JBC, who lost their opening match 40-68 to Angola's Primeiro de Agosto, will now have to win their remaining two matches against continental heavyweights Ferroviaro of Mozambique and Maculusso of Angola tonight and tomorrow.
In Tuesday night's match, Despotivo took the game to their opponents from the onset and won all the four quarters of the game.
Akunge Pauline top-scored for the home team with 22 points and was ably supported by Filomena Micato and Deolinda Ngulela who weighed in with 13 points apiece.
JBC's Fadzai Mabasa fought a lone battle contributing 15 points to the visitors' total with Charity Chigumba adding 10 points while Juliet Misihairambwi and Sibongile Mradla contributed eight points apiece.
However, JBC coach Addison Chiware remains optimistic that his charges will win their next two matches and still qualify for the finals of the tournaent to be held in Nigeria in October.
"We lost the match in the first quarter where we gave Despotivo too much space for shooting. In the second and third quarter we managed to hold them only to break in the last quarter.
"It is goint to be difficult, but we now have to win our last two games for us to qualfy," he said.
Currently Angola's Primero de Agosto and Ferroviaro de Mozambique were ranked first and second respectively while JBC occupied position four. The top two teams from the tournament will qualify for the finals of the Africa Basketball Club Championships to be held in Nigeria in October.
Only three countries - Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe - managed to send teams to the tournament in the Zone Six region that includes countries in the Southern Africa Development Community.
The tournament ends tomorrow evening.
Maputo, Mozambique
ZIMBABWE'S representatives in the women's Zone Six Africa Basketball Club preliminary qualifiers JBC made life difficult for themselves after falling 56-95 to Mozambique's Despotivo Maputo at Estrela Vermelha Sports Club here on Tuesday night.
JBC, who lost their opening match 40-68 to Angola's Primeiro de Agosto, will now have to win their remaining two matches against continental heavyweights Ferroviaro of Mozambique and Maculusso of Angola tonight and tomorrow.
In Tuesday night's match, Despotivo took the game to their opponents from the onset and won all the four quarters of the game.
Akunge Pauline top-scored for the home team with 22 points and was ably supported by Filomena Micato and Deolinda Ngulela who weighed in with 13 points apiece.
JBC's Fadzai Mabasa fought a lone battle contributing 15 points to the visitors' total with Charity Chigumba adding 10 points while Juliet Misihairambwi and Sibongile Mradla contributed eight points apiece.
However, JBC coach Addison Chiware remains optimistic that his charges will win their next two matches and still qualify for the finals of the tournaent to be held in Nigeria in October.
"We lost the match in the first quarter where we gave Despotivo too much space for shooting. In the second and third quarter we managed to hold them only to break in the last quarter.
"It is goint to be difficult, but we now have to win our last two games for us to qualfy," he said.
Currently Angola's Primero de Agosto and Ferroviaro de Mozambique were ranked first and second respectively while JBC occupied position four. The top two teams from the tournament will qualify for the finals of the Africa Basketball Club Championships to be held in Nigeria in October.
Only three countries - Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe - managed to send teams to the tournament in the Zone Six region that includes countries in the Southern Africa Development Community.
The tournament ends tomorrow evening.
# posted by afrbk : 11:37
