League leaders Cascade Bullets maintained their top position on the table with a 62-57 win over PLS Suns, while Anse Boileau-based AB Boys have lost their unbeaten run, after losing their first league match against Praslin Boys in extra-time.

AB Boys are presently third, after being leapfrogged into second place by Anse Etoile who defeated the Bel Air Basketball Academy (Baba) to collect their seventh league win.

Against PLS Suns, Cascade Bullets struggled early to get their strategy right, committing several mistakes, allowing Suns to score some easy points to conclude the first on a low 12-10 in their advantage.

The second quarter was no different from the first, with both teams struggling to impose their game, with Bullets having a slight upper hand at the end, winning it 15-13, concluding the first half on a 25-25 tie.

With everything to lose, Bullets’ coaches Biko Biong and assistant Vali Ismael went back to their drawing during half-time, rethinking their strategy on how to contain PLS Suns of coach Alain Estro who were making life really difficult for them.

However, the new strategy seemed to work as Bullets went on to score 19 more points, while Suns drop in 11, concluding the third quarter 44-36 in favour of Bullets.

The fourth and final quarter was a totally different story, with both teams scoring and conceding, while Bullets benefitted from a couple of free-throws at the end of the period which really made a difference in the final minutes of match, giving them a slight 62-57 victory, keeping them on top of the table.

Big man Eddy Servina had the hot hands for Bullets with 17 points, while Kelvin Nourrice scored 18 points to lead the scoring for PLS Sun.

Cascade Bullets have now collected 17 points from eight wins and a single defeat out of nine matches, scoring 609 points and conceding 414.

As for PLS Suns, the defeat keeps them in the seventh position overall on ten points from two wins and a defeat out of eight matches.

They have scored 471 points and conceded 490.

Praslin Boys halt AB Boys in extra-time

After an undefeated run, winning all seven matches played, Anse Boileau-based AB Boys were finally put to a stop on Saturday, suffering their first defeat – 72-60 – at the hands of inner island side Praslin Boys.

Having won their last four matches, Praslin Boys came in all guns blazing to try and put a stop to AB Boys’ winning streak, winning the first quarter 20-11.

Praslin Boys came out stronger in the second quarter, maintaining their pressure on AB Boys, scoring an additional 22 points, while the latter scored only 11, concluding the first half of the match 44-22 in favour of the Praslin side.

They however suffered a huge blow when they lost big man Selwyn Volcère after five personal files.

Realising that the match was quickly slipping away from them, AB regrouped and improved in the third quarter, outscoring Praslin Boys 19-7, cutting their lead to 49-41 at the end of the third period.

In the fourth and final quarter, AB who had picked up their momentum kept pushing to close the gap, and managed to again outscore Praslin Boys 19-11, concluding the match on a 60-60 tie.

In the extra-time, both teams pushed forward, not wanting to lose, but Praslin Boys were more consistent in both offence and defence, committing fewer mistakes to outscore AB Boys 12-6 and won the match 72-66.

Jackson August was Praslin Boys’ top scorer with 18 points, while with 20 points, Franchesco Boniface led the scoring for AB Boys.

AB Boys are now third overall on 15 points after seven wins and a loss out of eight matches, scoring 605 points and conceding 365.

Praslin Boys however missed out on the chance to climb third, after losing their second match on Sunday 49-55 to Mont Fleuri Ballerz.

They are now fourth on 15 points from six wins and three defeats out of nine matches.

They have scored 561 point and conceded 488.

Speaking to Sports NATION regarding their busy weekend schedule, having to play two matches in two days due to logistic reasons, Praslin Boys’ coach Andy Niole said it is not really an issue for them, and that they rather see it as the perfect challenge and opportunity to perform better and also to test their endurance.

He added that it is also a positive thing since it helps them to match up and also to keep the players in the competitive mode and momentum.

Anse Etoile beat Baba to take runners-up spot

Following AB Boys’ defeat at the hand of Praslin Boys, Anse Etoile have seized the opportunity to swoop into the second place on the league table, following their win over the youngsters of the Bel Air Youth Academy (Baba).

Despite being just a formality for Anse Etoile, the young Baba team under the guidance of coach Gregoire Scholastique put up quite a fight, giving Anse Etoile a ride for their money, even if they managed to win the first quarter 20-7.

With a more experienced line-up, Anse Etoile managed to clinch the second period 21-7 to conclude the first half 41-14 in their favour.

Baba put up more resistance in the third quarter of the match, forcing Anse Etoile to make better use of their experienced player to win 22-11, ending the third quarter 63-25.

It was in the fourth and final and quarter that the young Baba succumbed to Anse Etoile who chipped in 35 additional points, compared to only two for Baba, ending the match with a 98-27 victory.

Once again, it was Nigel Cafrine who had the hot hands for Anse Etoile, scoring 29 points, while captain Oneal Laval led Baba with nine points.

Anse Etoile have now gathered 15 points from seven wins and a single defeat out of eight matches, scoring 646 points and conceding 344, boasting a superior basket difference to third-placed AB Boys who have the same points tally.

As for Baba, the defeat placed them eighth on 10 points from two wins and six losses out of eight matches.

They have scored 344 points while conceding 513.

Source: Seychelles Nation