POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
In the mens division one league, PLS Hawks have to win their remaining three matches to make sure of retaining the title after steamrollering Angels last weekend, while Premium Cobras kept up the challenge with an important win over fellow challengers MBU Rockers.
Defending champions Hawks were once again annoyed with the Seychelles Basketball Federation on Tuesday as one of the referees did not turn up for their match against the Rockers.
This is the second time in less than two weeks that the Hawks had to return home without playing. The first time was on Saturday October 15 when they were expected to play against Baya.
This is getting out of control, PLS Hawks coach Clifford Joubert told Sports Nation
The players are frustrated with the situation. Rodney Loz, for example, has been working on Praslin and paid his own airfares to come to Mahe to play. He returned to Praslin without touching the ball. This situation is not good for Seychelles basketball, said Joubert, the head coach of the countrys mens team who won the Indian Ocean Island Games gold medal here in August.
According to a reliable source, the referee said he did not check his officiating schedule and could not come to the venue as he had not made provisions to get release from work and get someone else to replace him.
The Hawks last win was against Anse Boileau-based Angels on a 119-68 score on the back of 32 points by Nigerian import Alao Solomon, bringing their points tally to 28 after 15 games played (13 wins and two losses).
Captain Bernard Bristol and company have three matches more to play against Mont Fleuri Dawgz, Baya and MBU Rockers, while Premium Cobras were expected in action for the last time in the league yesterday against tailenders Razors.
In their previous outing, the Cobras twin towers of Nigerian Ajodoh Ugbaje and Seychellois Timmy Adam combined for 45 of their teams points in a 91-62 beating of the Rockers.
Before yesterdays match, they led the standings with 31 points (14 wins and three losses).
Mont Fleuri Dawgz collected two wins last week against Cascade Bullets 66-54 and Razors 104-55 to go second on the table with 29 points with 12 wins and five defeats in 17 games.
Cascade Bullets brought their number of wins to seven in 18 games thanks to an 84-67 victory against Anse Boileau-based Drifters who are in their first year in the top flight after winning the second division title last year.
The Bullets are 25 points, while second-from-bottom Drifters have 18.
Meanwhile, the mens division two champions are Juniors who have finished the two-round league with 23 points after 11 wins and a loss in 12 games.
Anse Etoiles Faizel Naiken followed his record 72-point performance against cadets with 45 points against Beau Vallon Heat as his team won 79-59 to go second in the standings with 21 points after nine wins and three defeats.
Praslin Warriors 67-45 victory against AAP Brothers has put them in a good position to fight for the runners-up spot with Anse Etoile.
With a match in hand on Anse Etoile, the Warriors can leapfrog them with a win and finished second behind Juniors on the head-to-head rule.
In the womens league, Juniors had it easy against Cadettes, winning 73-29 as Jana Malbrook, 16, scored seven 3-pointers for 21 of her game-high 39 points.
