GBL... The big upsets - 2009-07-30

The Gauteng Basketball League is running on a relegation system and teams in the premier league are fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Egoli Magic is leading the pack; having played eight games with no losses and by the looks of things; they're going to remain unbeaten for the 2009 GBL season.

This past Saturday Wits Alumni thought they didn't need to bring their whole team to the game against Tuks; who are currently standing at seventh position on the log. Little did they know that The University of Pretoria is just as hungry as their soccer team and don’t want to get relegated. They came out fighting this past weekend.

After a short interview with Wits Alumni Captain Tshepo Ditshego last Sunday; some heavy comments were made, "The only way to move up is by playing and beating weak teams" this being said after winning against Pretoria Heat. Well, that didn’t really play out as planned... A five player's team was not going to beat the student team from Pretoria, though the "bench playing" Alumni team gave Tuks a good run; Mfundo and Tshepo weren’t enough ammunition to beat the boys on their home turf. A 88-83 victory by Tuks; the first upset of the weekend.

The second "upset" was straight after Alumni's loss, when the talented UJ ladies team encountered their second battle against the ladies Tuks team. With player coach, Nicky de Villiers, out due to injuries; it was up to Sibongile Masongana to lead the team to victory. The problematic Taki Mfamadi was too quick for the UJ guards, averaging twenty points in that game. Veteran Sibongile Masongana hasn’t lost her ball swag at all! She showed why she’s still in the game and still going strong...

Both teams were at each other's necks from jump ball, but yet again it was the team who were mentally tougher to win this battle. The last period was the most entertaining of the four; Ellen Poopsie Mothlwatsi stepped it up for The University of Johannesburg; being an offensive threat and sending the game to overtime. The five minutes were a tough and nail biting experience for the teams, but Takalani Mfamadi kept at it; drawing those fouls; sending Kgaogelo Phiri to the bench and hitting a buzzer beat to give Tuks a one point lead; sending coach Mandla Ngema and his girls back to the drawing board before the game against VUT in two weeks. Outstanding performances from Takalane Mfamadi and Ellen Mothlwatsi!

Not much of an upset, but a let down. 'Under Dogs' C.U.T; a team that can cause some riff raft in GBL but like Braamfortain Blues, don't quite make it; were disbarred of their 'Under Dog' status with a 107-68 loss to Egoli Magic. Braamfortain Blues like C.U.T play hard, but reach a point where they can't really push themselves anymore an end up settling for a loss... But then again, who can blame them? With players like "The Mountain" who is almost impossible to get around and Tsakane Ngobeni; strong on both offence and defense; not even Tshiamo's drives and grand shots can carry Bram Blues out the gutter… Wits Alumni covered for their embracing loss, winning 88-83 to Braamfortain Blues.

Every time any team plays Scorpions; they predict a win before jump ball. A mistake The Vaal University of Technology's ladies team made this past Sunday. Having played for Wits, then VUT and now Scorpions; Emma Ledwaba had a point to prove to Zed and his girls. Countless shot blocks, 15 points and running point for most of the game. Emma couldn't be stopped by anyone from VUT; though many tried; they'd just bounce off her granite body (Rehquel Molema can testify).

Charity Chigumba’s 21 point score was the only girl from Vaal who could come close to matching Emma’s 15 point score and do a decent job guarding Ledwaba. Vaal led for most of the game but not far enough for Scorpions to catch up to them. Though Scorpions had no big names on the score sheet, they put up a good fight till the end and with 29 seconds on the clock and Scorpions leading by one point, Nombulelo got fouled out. Vaal's victory was at her disposal… The noise and pressure from the crowd didn't make it easy for the young girl; nutshell, air balls in a crucial stage sent Vaal home with their first loss for the season. A 45-44 victory by Scorpions was inspired by an all star performance from Coach Willy and the Scorpions ladies.

Article written by Nthabiseng Mushi






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