• Sport

Wolves crush Rebels’ three-peat dreams

• 4 Hours Ago

Khomas Basketball Association (KBA) premier league’s final playoff spot was secured by University of Namibia (Unam) Wolves, who upset their archrivals, Unam Rebels, after their series showdown went the distance last weekend.

Held at the Unam Gym Hall, the best-of-seven Unam derby tipped off last month. The clash came early this season for the two teams, who had always met in the final, with Rebels clinching back-to-back championship titles.

This season was equally high-stakes, as the face-off served fans all seven matches in the series. Wolves had the early edge, winning the first two games (88-71 and 89-82), before Rebels clawed back with a 90-82 win. Wolves hit back 96-79 to stay ahead.



Deciding weekend clashes

The two sides went into the weekend with Wolves leading the series 3-2. However, Friday’s encounter saw Wolves fail to find their shooting touch, as they fell 76-68 to Rebels. A Wolves win would have ended the series 4-2, giving them a clear spot in the final.

Wolves’ only glimpses of dominance were in the first and fourth quarters, when they led 12-6 and 62-61, respectively, but they struggled to keep up with Rebels’ scoring pace.

The odds, however, swung back in Wolves’ favour on Sunday, as they displayed strong dominance throughout the game. Wolves led 22-17 after the first quarter, 44-29 at halftime, and 67-57 after the third quarter. They ultimately closed out the game 87-71 with a comfortable 16-point cushion, sealing their place in the final against Quality Basketball Club (QBC).

One would argue Wolves perform better without the media looming over them courtside.

Standout players included Wolves’ Sinvalo Banda (#13), who notched a double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds, along with two steals. Rebels leaned heavily on Mike “Money Mike” Mukumbutaa (#10), who also posted a double-double with 22 points, 17 rebounds and six assists.



‘Our tactics worked’

Speaking to this publication yesterday, Wolves coach Allan Nghixulifwa credited their win over the experienced Rebels to his younger team outsmarting their opponents.

“It’s always tough going up against Rebels, so we are blessed to have younger players with fresher legs. They played very well and smartly, just as we have been doing in practice,” he said.

“As coaches, we always play mind games with other coaches and try not to let them know what we are up to. We had a few tactical changes in the line-up to surprise them, and it worked!”

Nghixulifwa is the only coach in the league to lead four teams (women’s premier league Unam Phoenix, first division Unam Penguins and second division Team Allies) to their respective finals this season.

The other premier league semi-final playoff bracket saw QBC upset regular-season leaders Afro Stars 84-68 to win the series 4-2 and book their spot in the final.



QBC heads to final

QBC’s semi-final run, which also began last month, saw them edge Afro Stars 58-56, 66-61 and 85-74. Afro Stars’ only wins came at 72-62 and 69-62.

Reflecting on leading his team to the final, QBC coach Anthony Williams Auchab lauded the opportunity.

“We made a deal with God when the season started [to hopefully reach the finals], so I want to thank Him and the players for making this possible. We have come a long way and it’s a privilege to be able to coach this team,” he said.

He assured QBC is not letting up just yet, noting they are ready to put in the hard work in the final.



Other divisions finals

KBA League playoff finals will commence this weekend at Unam Gym Hall, where the two undefeated teams in the women’s premier league semi-final playoffs, Unam Phoenix and Ongos Shooting Stars, will face off in a best-of-seven series.

The first division will see undefeated Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) Gladiators face Unam Penguins in a best-of-seven for a chance at premier league basketball.

Meanwhile, undefeated Team Allies and Leopards will battle in a best-of-five for promotion to the first division.

– mariud@nsh.com.na