Basketball in Africa

HOTSHOTS are a game away from achieving a second consecutive league and cup double after dispatching Anse Etoile Stars in the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup.

Coach Philip Arissol’s HotShots team had been drawn straight into the semifinal against the Stars, and on Tuesday at Victoria Gymnasium they booked their place in the final with a big 69-38 win after dominating all four quarters – 11-8, 11-10, 19-14 and 28-6.
Jenita Toussaint banked four of her team’s nine treys to finish with a game-high 19 points for HotShots, who got balanced scoring with shooting guard Beguitta Fontaine hitting three 3-pointers for nine of her 13 points, power forward Myra Solin adding 13 and centre Tina Agathine making a 15-point contribution before fouling out.
Centre Simone Malbrook and Dynah Louis combined for 26 points – 13 apiece – in the Stars’ loss.
Having booked their place in the Saturday October 30 final, HotShots now await the winners of today’s second semifinal between RA Sisters and Mont Fleuri.

RA Sisters scraped to a 49-47 win over Juniors to earn the right to play Mont Fleuri, who lost last year’s SBF Cup final to HotShots.

HotShots swept the best-of-three series in 2009. They won game one by a 21-point margin – 72-51 – with centre Agathine scoring 24 points mostly from second-chance shots she got from under the board.

In game two, Solin played like a real power forward and Toussaint rediscovered her shooting prowess from beyond 3-point range with three treys to help HotShots to a 63-49 victory to complete a first league and cup double.

Meanwhile, in the men’s competition, the semifinals will be played on Saturday at the Palais des Sports.

Defending champions Baya are up against MBU Rockers after beating Mont Fleuri Dawgz 64-46 in the quarterfinal.

Coach Alvin Alcindor’s MBU Rockers set up a semifinal showdown with Baya thanks to an 83-68 victory over Razors.

In the top half of the draw, league champions PLS Hawks booked their place in the semifinal when they beat Juniors 84-58 on October 9.

Premium Cobras joined them in the last-four stage with an 87-58 quarterfinal victory against Cascade Bullets.

G. G.