adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
TOP basketball clubs JBC and Vixens were crowned champions in the men and women’s categories of the National Championships at Mutare Boys High over the weekend .JBC emerged winners in the men’s category when they beat Cameo 49-39 in the final.
They had earlier dismissed Unicorns 59-48 in the semi-finals while Cameo defeated Mercenaries 59-44 in the other semi-final.
In the third and fourth play-offs, Mercenaries prevailed 74-54 over Unicorns to walk away with the bronze medal.
In the women’s competition Vixens retained the title for the second consecutive year after dismissing Green Stars 70-50.
Vixens beat Mavericks 59-47 on their way to the finals while Green Stars beat JBC 43-38 in the other semi-final.
JBC, however, finished third after they defeated Mavericks 55-42 in the third and fourth play-offs.
The tournament, organised by the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe, attracted 13 men and 11 women’s teams.
The matches started at group stages with the clubs divided into four groups. BUZ secretary-general, Joe Mujuru, said they were pleased with the turnout and quality of basketball displayed by the clubs.
“I think as the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe, we were happy with the organisation of the tournament. Manicaland did a good job in terms of the groundwork in preparation for the tournament, administratively we were happy.
“The quality of basketball is on the up for both men and women. We saw them playing a better level of basketball than what we saw last year in the Midlands.
“We had new teams that did well such as Steelers from Kwekwe. For us it is exciting when we see such results because we are seeing that basketball is growing even in small provinces.
“We are happy also with the competition we are seeing in women’s basketball and the strength of the teams. From the teams that actually qualified for the event only four teams failed to come — three men and one women’s team — to make it 16 and 12 (in the men and women’s category respectively).
“I think it was an encouraging number looking at the economic environment sport is operating,” said Mujuru.
JBC’s Simba Mungomezi and Margaret Magwaro of Vixens were voted the Most Valuable Players in the men and women’s category.
The winners and runners-up in both categories will represent the nation at the Africa Club Championships to be held later this year.
Online Reporter