Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
RAIN disrupted play at the Basketball Union of Zimbabwe (Buz) regional National Club Championships qualifiers held in Gweru at the weekend leading to postponement of the men’s semi-finals.
Men’s and women’s teams from Matabeleland South, Midlands, Masvingo and Bulawayo converged at Midlands State University (MSU) seeking slots in the finals.
The qualifiers could not be concluded after bad light stopped play just before the two semi-final games. Lakers from Bulawayo were meant to face Falcons from Gweru while Legends, also from Bulawayo, had a date with Unicorns from Kwekwe.
Winners from both matches will qualify for the national finals. Buz has opted to complete the qualifiers in Bulawayo on April 23 just a few days before the national finals to be held in the city on April 30.
“Most of the games could not be played on day one as it was raining for the greater part of the day. So, on Sunday the games started flowing, but the men’s semi-finals could not be played because of bad light.
It was an outdoor venue hence we had no light,” said Francis Dube, Bulawayo Basketball Association (BBA) secretary-general.
In the ladies’ division, Lakers Mzansi and Southern Mavericks qualified for the national finals after victories over Angels and Highlanders respectively.
Mzansi Lakers won 27-10, while Mavericks scored 45 points to Highlanders’ 11. Meanwhile, BBA got a donation of a shot clock valued at €1 650 from SU Sports ahead of the National Club Championships.
SU Sports is a Harare based sports company owned and managed by former national captain Taurai Chitsinde.
BBA president Sinda Mono said: “We have indeed taken delivery of a complete shot clock that was donated to us by SU Sports.
This is by far a huge gesture and will go a long way in improving the quality of the game in the province.” He said the donation came at an opportune time when the province is preparing to host the National Club Championships finals.
Results
Women: Mavericks 110-08 Ironshooters, Lakers Mzansi 20-00 Ironshooters, Mavericks 37-12 Lakers Mzansi,
Highlanders 14-13 Wranglers, Angels 27-05 Highlanders, Wranglers 11-48 Angels
Semi-finals: Angels 10-27 Lakers Mzansi, Mavericks 45-11 Highlanders
Mens round robin results
Unicorns 53-52 Legends Gweru, Lakers 49-22 Highlanders, Legends Gweru 57-49 Highlanders
Unicorns 49-50 Lakers, Lakers 38-32 Legends Gweru, Unicorns 57-45 Highlanders, Giants Zvishavane 33-67
Legends Bulawayo, Falcons 48-40 Panthers, Legends Bulawayo 18-14 Giants Byo
Giants Zvishavane 24-30 Falcons, Legends Byo 31-43 Panthers, Giants Zvish 21-59 Giants Bulawayo
Falcons 15-26 Legends Byo, Giants Zvishavane 08-29 Panthers, Falcons 56-50 Giants Bulawayo, Giants Byo 30-20 Panthers
– @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter