SEYCHELLES : Season enters final straight

THE four league competitions organised by the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) enter the final straight starting Thursday July 6 at Victoria Gymnasium.It is expected that some teams will parade new players when the different championships resume but by Monday July 3, no transfer request had been entertained by the National Basketball Technical Committee (NBTC), an arm of the SBF.

Originally set for July 2, the transfer season deadline has been pushed to Wednesday July 4 and teams must hurry to register their new acquisition.

In Thursday’s Women’s League match, Hot Shots will play fifth-placed Cadettes made up of mostly under 17 players who are to participate in the forthcoming Jeux de la Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l’Océan indien (CJSOI) in Mauritius.

Playing under coaches Steve Hoareau and Patricia Samynadin, Cadettes, with some skilful players like Zerah Fontaine, Shakira Port-Louis and Kathleena Pouponneau aren’t concentrating on winning the championship but on exposing their players to tough competition locally so that they are ready to challenge for the gold medal of the Jeux de la CJSOI.

Former champions Hot Shots, boasting players like Tina Agathine, Beguitta Fontaine, Myra Solin and Jenita Toussaint, are currently third in the seven-team league with 11 points, the same total as leaders and defending champions Anse Etoile Stars and second-placed Bel Air.

The head-to-head and basket difference rules have been used by SBF’s statistician to separate the three teams who have each won five times and lost once in six matches, meaning that the second leg promises to be as entertaining as the first.

Curtain-raiser losing finalists Mont Fleuri have seen their quest for the championship title take a knock after suffering three defeats against the Big Threes, but captain Williana Dubois and company can still challenge for the crown if they are able to stay focus and win matches.

At the foot of the table are Hackers who are without a win in six games and have lost two of those matches by walk-over.

Premium Cobras lead

In the Men division 1A league, Premium Cobras boast a one-point lead over surprised package SMB Razorback who are currently second with 12 points.

Surprisingly, all eight teams in the country’s top division have lost at least once at the half-way stage of the championship.

While Premium Cobras have totalled the highest number of wins – six – in seven outings for 13 points, defending champions PLS Hawks, who are in third position, have five victories and two defeats, one of those coming against SMB Razorback and the other to their main rivals.

Third-placed finishers last season and labelled championship material early in the season after their 66-63 win over Premium Cobras, Baya have since lost the momentum with defeats against PLS Hawks (75-84), MBU Rockers (59-60) and SMB Razorback (69-73).

Ranked fourth, coach Michel Malbrook’s Baya have 11 points after four wins and three defeats. It remains to be seen if coach Malbrook can gather his players and lead them to a good second round to at least maintain their third position as last year.

Interestingly, all the remaining four teams – Angels, Cascade Bullets, RC Dynamics and MBU Rockers – have nine points after two wins and five defeats each.

Judging from previous years, if the situation does not change as the season approaches an end, the fight to avoid the drop looks to be fierce in what could be seen as a second league within the main top division.

Three-way race

Like in the Women’s League, the top three teams in the Men division 1B league are tied on points – 11 - after six matches played. Leaders Ex-Champs, runners-up Anse Etoile and third-placed Pointe Larue Falcons have each won five games and lost once in the title fight for promotion to the highest division.

Relegated to the Men division 1B at the end of last season, Beau Vallon Heat were expected to make a quick return to the top flight but until now this does not look like becoming a reality as they have lost all their six first round matches.

So far, coach Valli Ismaël has had to rely on young and inexperienced players as most of his top players were out serving long-term suspensions. They are expected to return soon to help the team grind some victories and stay alive in the division 1B.

The Men’s second division is being ruled by Juniors with an unbeaten record of seven wins for a maximum 14 points, one more than former top flight side LMS Jazz who have six wins and one defeat.

Eight teams registered to play in the second division league but with Takamaka twice failing to report for duty and being kicked out of the championship, seven are left in the race for the bottom division title and promotion to the Men division 1B league at the start of the 2007 season.