01 July 2011
ZIMBABWE : JBC want to keep their titles
By Ellina Mhlanga
Herald 1 July 2011,
JBC coach Addison Chiware is confident in his teams ahead of this weekend's Basketball Union of Zimbabwe national championships finals set for Bulawayo. The championships are pencilled for tomorrow and Sunday and the matches will be played at BCD with 16 teams battling it out in the quarter-finals of the national championships. The men's category will feature defending champions JBC, Raiderz, Kings, Hustlers, Unicoms, Heat, Varsity Leopards and Mercenaries while the women's category is made up of Giants, Platinum Ballers, Lakers, Stormers, Real Returners, Varsity Leopards and title holders JBC.
JBC men's team have been the champions for the past three years and will be out to defend their title while the women's team have won the title twice in the previous years. Chiware said they were hoping to retain the title in both the men and women's divisions. 'Obviously we are taking the games seriously and we really expect a repeat of last year's competition. We know the competition is going to be really high.
'We are going to get ready for a very good quality competition.'We are just hoping we can play better and prevail in both the men and women's categories,' said Chiware. Chiware said he expects his players to play as a team as they want to defend their title. 'It's a team sport and we expect everyone to be playing very well and according to instructions. ' Giants women's team coach Belia Zibowa said they were ready for the competition.
'We are expecting to do very well. Our preparations have been good, we went to Botswana for an invitational tournament and we actually won in the tournament. 'In the preliminary games we beat Varsity (Leopards) one of the best teams in Harare. 'Our aim is to reach the finals and win to get a ticket to represent the country in the Zone Six championships,' said Zibowa. BUZ competitions director Simon Lawson said it will be the battle of the best clubs in the country and he expects a competitive event.
'There are interesting games and you can't underestimate anyone. 'For the teams to qualify it means they have done well. 'These are the best teams in the country and you can not take anything away from them. 'Hustlers are new comers in the men's competition and maybe they will pull a surprise. 'All the teams are targeting to make it into the finals and are fighting for a ticket to the club championships,' said Lawson.
The top two teams from both the men and women's categories will qualify for the Zone Six club championships to be held in Zambia later this year.
Fixtures Quarter-finals
Men: JBC vs Kings, Raiderz vs Hustlers, Unicoms vs Heat, Varsity Leopards vs Mercenaries.
Women: Giants vs Platnum Ballers, Lakers vs Stormers, JBC vs Raiderz, Real Returners vs Varsity Leopards.
Herald 1 July 2011,
JBC coach Addison Chiware is confident in his teams ahead of this weekend's Basketball Union of Zimbabwe national championships finals set for Bulawayo. The championships are pencilled for tomorrow and Sunday and the matches will be played at BCD with 16 teams battling it out in the quarter-finals of the national championships. The men's category will feature defending champions JBC, Raiderz, Kings, Hustlers, Unicoms, Heat, Varsity Leopards and Mercenaries while the women's category is made up of Giants, Platinum Ballers, Lakers, Stormers, Real Returners, Varsity Leopards and title holders JBC.
JBC men's team have been the champions for the past three years and will be out to defend their title while the women's team have won the title twice in the previous years. Chiware said they were hoping to retain the title in both the men and women's divisions. 'Obviously we are taking the games seriously and we really expect a repeat of last year's competition. We know the competition is going to be really high.
'We are going to get ready for a very good quality competition.'We are just hoping we can play better and prevail in both the men and women's categories,' said Chiware. Chiware said he expects his players to play as a team as they want to defend their title. 'It's a team sport and we expect everyone to be playing very well and according to instructions. ' Giants women's team coach Belia Zibowa said they were ready for the competition.
'We are expecting to do very well. Our preparations have been good, we went to Botswana for an invitational tournament and we actually won in the tournament. 'In the preliminary games we beat Varsity (Leopards) one of the best teams in Harare. 'Our aim is to reach the finals and win to get a ticket to represent the country in the Zone Six championships,' said Zibowa. BUZ competitions director Simon Lawson said it will be the battle of the best clubs in the country and he expects a competitive event.
'There are interesting games and you can't underestimate anyone. 'For the teams to qualify it means they have done well. 'These are the best teams in the country and you can not take anything away from them. 'Hustlers are new comers in the men's competition and maybe they will pull a surprise. 'All the teams are targeting to make it into the finals and are fighting for a ticket to the club championships,' said Lawson.
The top two teams from both the men and women's categories will qualify for the Zone Six club championships to be held in Zambia later this year.
Fixtures Quarter-finals
Men: JBC vs Kings, Raiderz vs Hustlers, Unicoms vs Heat, Varsity Leopards vs Mercenaries.
Women: Giants vs Platnum Ballers, Lakers vs Stormers, JBC vs Raiderz, Real Returners vs Varsity Leopards.
# posted by afrbk : 16:00
