Basketball - Seychelles celebrates victory in final game |02 March 2015

The national basketball team which has been representing Seychelles at the Afro-Basket Qualifiers finally celebrated victory on Friday night, after their final game of the competition.

It was against the South Africans that Seychelles tasted their first victory of the tournament, with an impressive 72-55 win.

The competition, which was being hosted by Zimbabwe, pitted Seychelles against the hosts, South Africa and Angola. It was a real test of fitness as the teams had to play six games in six days.

Their first game of the tournament was against the South Africans, a game which Seychelles lost 52-60. The team then faced the mighty Angola and tasted a second defeat on a 55-117 scoreline. Their final first round game was against Zimbabwe and despite a good showing, lost the game 61-69.

The team started the second round with another loss to Zimbabwe, this time on a 52-63 score before going on to lose 48-103 to the Angolans.

The victory against South Africa will surely be a big boost to the team as they return to the country to prepare for the Indian Ocean Island Games (IOIG), having tested themselves against superior opponents.

The team was being led by coach Tony Juliette with the assistance of Nigel Ah-Kong. The players who represented the country at the competitio are Abdel Sylla (Pau-Lacq-Orthez), Andrew Rath (Altopascio), Bernard Bristol (PLS Hawks), Cyril Agrippine, Ron Estico, Steven André (Mont Fleuri Dawgz), Timmy Adam, Amadou Sylla, Dave Roseline, Faizel Naiken (Baya), Arnaud Arrisol (Drifters) and Nigel Sinon (MBU Rockers).