Basketball: Land Marine Cup semifinals |15 December 2022

PLS Hawks’ Neddy ‘Oye’ Fanchette (with ball) takes on the Cobras defence (Photo: Roland Duval)

PLS Hawks sneak past Premium Cobras to reach final

League runners-up PLS Hawks have booked their spot in the men’s division one Land Marine Cup final following their 64-61 win over Premium Cobras yesterday at the Victoria Gymnasium.

In the final, Hawks will once again clash with Beau Vallon Heat who defeated them in the play-offs series, as well as in the group stage of the Land Marine Cup.

It was Premium Cobras who looked more dominant in the early stages of the match, winning the first quarter 24-14, only to allow Hawks to fly back in the second quarter which they won 25-12 to take a 39-36 lead at half-time.

Back to his drawing board during the break, coach Dominic Pillay managed to re-adjust his strategy in the third quarter where Cobras outscored Hawks 18-14 for a slight 54-53 lead at the end of the third period.

Back to their old habits in the third quarter, Cobras kept committing the same mistakes, precisely turn-overs which PLS Hawks capitalised upon to score 11 more points, compared to seven for Cobras in the final quarter, giving the former a 64-61 win and a place in the final.

Ed Talma was Hawks’ top scorer with 13 points, while Sena Amekudi and Alao Solomon contributed 14 points each for Premium Cobras.

The Land Marine Cup final will take place on Saturday at 5.30pm at Victoria Gymnasium.

Also on Saturday, Anse Etoile Stars will face B Challenge in the women’s final at 2pm, while in the men’s division two final, Anse Boileau-based AB Boys will play against Anse Royale at 3.30pm.

Roland Duval