Successful debut at USSA for Maties Basketball : 2016-07-13
The Maties Basketball men’s team not only finished sixth overall in its debut USSA tournament, but also managed to qualify for the Varsity Sports Basketball tournament.
Coach Zarko Krkeljas described the tournament as a rewarding learning experience for both players and coaches.
“On the one hand it was exactly what we expected: tough games, played by tough opponents that challenged us physically and mentally. But the fact that we responded in the way we did made it easier to keep on fighting.”
The main goal for Maties was to qualify for the Varsity Sports tournament and for that they needed to finish in the top 8. There were 16 teams.
“We exceeded the expectations by far, no doubt. While we certainly did not know what to expect, we did know that we were as ready as we could be. We knew that the performance in the first game would dictate the rest of the tournament, and that was exactly what happened. After beating DUT, the momentum carried us against Pukke, and two wins on the first day set the bar for the rest of the week.”
DUT was a finalist last year.
Maties’ Ryan Jayne was included in the team of the tournament to add some more sparkle to what was already shining week of basketball for Maties. Other teams and coaches recognised Maties’ efforts throughout the tournament with a standing ovation at a gala dinner.
“Getting that kind of recognition made me even prouder of my players, for the effort and heart they showed during the entire tournament.”
AFRIKAANS
Suksesvolle debuut by USSA vir Maties Basketbal
Maties Basketbal se mansspan het nie net algeheel sesde gekom in sy eerste USSA-toernooi nie, maar het in die proses ook gekwalifiseer vir die Varsity Sports-basketbaltoernooi.
Die span se afrigter, Zarko Krkeljas, het die toernooi as ’n wonderlike leerervaring vir spelers én afrigters beskryf.
“Aan die een kant was dit presies wat ons verwag het: taai wedstryde teen moeilike teenstanders was ons fisiek en geestelik getoets het. Maar die manier waarop ons gereageer het, het dit makliker gemaak om aan te hou baklei vir elke punt.”
Maties se hoofdoel was om vir die Varsity Sports-toernooi te kwalifiseer en daarvoor moes hulle die topagt haal. Altesaam 16 spanne het deelgeneem.
“Ons het sonder twyfel alle verwagtinge oortref. Ons het geweet dat ons vertoning in die eerste wedstryd die verloop van die res van die toernooi sou dikteer en dit is presies wat gebeur het. Die momentum van die sege oor DUT het ons gedra in die stryd teen Pukke en om twee oorwinnings op dag een te kon behaal, het die standaard vir die res van die week gestel.”
DUT was verlede jaar ’n finalis in die kompetisie.
Maties se Ryan Jayne is ingesluit in die span van die toernooi. Ander spanne en afrigters het erkenning aan Maties gegee deur hulle staande toe te juig by die prysuitdeling.
“Ek het dit glad nie verwag nie en ek glo dit het elke speler ongelooflik trots laat voel,” het Krkeljas gesê.