Basketball: Men’s division one play-offs |09 November 2022
Hawks’ Neddy ‘Oye’ Fanchette and Baya’s Jason Benstrong will clash again on Friday for a spot in the final (Photo: Roland Duval)
Hawks beat Baya to level series
- Game three scheduled for Friday
A third match will be needed to decide the second finalists of the men’s division one play-offs after PLS Hawks beat Baya 75-58 in game two of the best-of-three series last night to level matters at one win apiece.
In the first match of the series on Saturday, Baya beat Hawks 79-75 in extra-time.
Still on the winning mode, Baya of coach Gregoire Scholastique entered yesterday’s match on high tempo, winning the first quarter 19-8, leaving their loyal fans on the edge of their seats, hoping for a repeat of Saturday’ feat and a place in the final.
With everything to lose, PLS Hawks changed their approach in the second quarter of the match, adjusting their defence and applying pressure on Baya who managed to score only nine points, compared to 22 for Hawks to conclude the first half of the match 30-28 in favour of the latter.
In the third quarter of the match, Hawks kept the pressure, forcing Baya to commit several mistakes, with captain Dave Roseline committing his fourth personal foul.
Hawks’ pressure paid as they managed to score 27 more points, while Baya managed to drop in only six, stretching Hawks’ lead to 57-34 at the end of the period.
The fourth and final quarter was evenly contested as Hawks played to maintain their lead, while Baya tried to push to close the gap, with the hope of avoiding a third match.
Baya won it 24-18 but still finished on the losing end 58-75 as PLS Hawks forced a game three.
Malagasy Ronald Rakotondriambeloma was Hawks’ top scorer with 14 points, while Okafor Ebuka led the scoring for Baya with 18 points.
The third match of the series will be played on Friday at 7pm at Victoria Gymnasium and the winners will meet Beau Vallon Heat who defeated Drifters 2-0 (77-70 and 87-62) in the other series.
Still on Friday, the third match in the women’s series between B Challenge and HotShots will take place, after the former won game one 56-32, before the latter levelled the series with a 46-34 win.
Meanwhile, game two of the men’s division two series between Anse Etoile and Cascade Bullets will take place today at 5.30pm at Victoria Gymnasium.
Anse Etoile are leading the series 1-0 following their 51-40 victory in game one on Saturday.
Anse Boileau-based AB Boys are already in the final after sweeping their series 2-0 (73-64 and 72-59) against Praslin Boys.
Roland Duval