UCT and Madibaz went head-to-head in a match this evening at the NMMU Indoor Centre in Port Elizabeth. With each team already having a win in the bag, the question on everyone´s lips was which team would come up tops. The answer, was an emphatic 60-29 victory by the Madibaz side.
The game kicked off with a starting toss by UCT and an opening goal by Bianca Blom of the Madibaz side in the first few minutes, and one more following close after. The first quarter ended with an NMMU lead, with a score of 20-7.
The second quarter started with NMMU coming out guns ablaze and scoring goal after goal, that set them up with a significant lead. The UCT team goal scorers Bagula and Peters aimed to maximise attack and score goals, but the homeside closed gaps fast. The first powerplay came out during the last minutes of the second quarter with two double-point scores by the Madibaz side and one by UCT.
Overall, the first half of the game was led by the homeside, Madibaz, who made sure to dominate on home soil and keep up the attack with shorter, sharper passes and good defence. The UCT side tried their best to set up goal attacks in an attempt to try close the gaps between between them and Madibaz side, but the homeside dominated goals and took advantage of any gaps in the UCT defence, eventually leading by far.
NMMU dominated with turnovers, goal percent and ball possession and despite them being the shorter side in height, this did not stop them from playing to their fullest and emerging the first half with a score of 39-13.
After the half time break UCT attempted to maximise their play by making changes in player positions, with versatile player Bagula moving from goal scorer to centre. The third quarter started with a turnover by Madibaz and two goals in the first few seconds. UCT upped their score with a bonus point and took advantage of attacks in their favour. The second powerplay came in the last few minutes of the third quarter, with two double point goals by UCT, but with Madibaz not wanting to be beat getting two as well.
The third quarter ended with Madibaz in the lead and a score of 55-22. The fourth and last quarter of the game commenced with the UCT defence and attack not giving up and scoring three, consecutive goals in the first few minutes. The UCT side fought to up their score and tried their best to get a score of 30 in the last few minutes, but the NMMU side dominated goals and goal possession. Both teams played their hearts out on the court and did the best they could, but the Madibaz side ultimately came up victorious in front of their home crowd with an emphatic win of 60-29 against the UCT side.
The FNB player of the match Melodine Jacobs, said that she “wanted to do more” for her team, but was happy with the Madibaz performance. Madibaz captain, Arne Rust, said after her team´s victorious game, that they went out fire blazing and she is very proud of the Madibaz side, who had good team cohesion. The UCT captain, Simone Peters said that “the game was a challenge, especially coming in as underdogs, but the team warmed up at the end and gave their best”. The UCT side hope to learn from their mistakes leading on in the competition and keep moving forward.
FNB Player of the Match: Melodine Jacobs (Madibaz)
Madibaz team: Eloise Webb; Sanelise Mgijima; Arne Rust; Hlumisa Sithonga; Nandipha Jack; Hadrin Tenteni, Nolisindiso Twani; Bianca Blom; Sibubele Mandeka; Melodine Jacobs; Philene van Niekerk; Riana Buys
UCT team: Fortuna Bagula (vice-captain); Paula Macnab; Phumi Shandu; Megan McCarley; Simone Peters (captain); Micaela Peters; Robyn Adams; Yeukai Chamba; Itseng Mogorosi; Marelise Coetzer; Marisa Du Preez; Natasha Jooste; Kirstie Macnab
By Jessie Leverzencie
