Basketballers spread life lesson with charity matches |09 July 2012

For some years now, the Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) has been organising charity matches and the players have always played the game in aid of people who are suffering from all kinds of illnesses. The SBF should be congratulated for its efforts to instilling strong values and educational life lessons in local basketballers to help benefit those less fortunate.

Saturday’s three charity matches at Victoria Gymnasium attracted a decent crowd and some of the teams gave a debut to their new recruits and at the same time tried to get ready for the second half of the season.

It was clear from the matches that some of the players looked rusty after the mid-season break, but the most important thing is that they had a great time on the court and entertained the spectators who joined in spreading a great life lesson – that we all need one another in good and bad times.

The proceeds from the sale of tickets for this year’s charity matches will go to former Beau Vallon, Anse Etoile Stars and Seychelles player Raymonde Julie – a victim of cancer. Julie, who was not at Victoria Gymnasium on Saturday, will receive the money from the SBF executive committee later this month.

Although she continues to fight a cancer, Nydia Samy, last year’s beneficiary of the charity matches, was present to bring her support to former colleague Julie.

Former Seychelles international Samy who won three Indian Ocean Island Games silver medals in 1990 in Madagascar, 1993 in Seychelles and 1998 in Reunion, received R46,160 from the SBF last year to pay her expenses for a check-up in Chennai, India.  She defended the colours of Mont Buxton, Rivière Anglaise and Anse Etoile Stars during her heydays.

On Saturday, women’s defending champions Anse Etoile Stars got a game-leading 17 points from captain and centre Simone Malbrook on the way to a 70-48 win over HotShots.

Dynah Louis (11 points) and playmaker Lindy Mathiot (10 points) were the other stars in double digits as they won three of the four quarters.

Tina Agathine and Hilary Nourrice – both volleyballers – finished as joint-top scorer with 11 points apiece for Anse Boileau-based HotShots.

The men’s second division encounter between Beau Vallon Heat and Anse Etoile was won by the former on a 69-59 score. In his first match on his comeback with the Heat after leaving first divisioners Baya, former Seychelles playmaker Giovanni Laval shot four times from downtown for 12 of his game-high 26 points. S. Vengadasamy added 20 points for the Heat, while N. Toulon had the hot hands for Anse Etoile with 18 points.

With two new recruits – Michael Cupidon from Baya and Michael Jean from RC Dynamics – Premium Cobras’ coach Peter Bresson tried his best to get them to gel with the rest of the team and in the end it was a winning debut for them as they beat reigning division one champions PLS Hawks 71-62.

Despite turning the ball over too often, Steve ‘Speedy’ Servina carried the cobras’ scoring load with 18 points and he got help from captain Amadou Sylla with 17, power forward Dominique Pillay with 14 and Dan Côme with 11.

Premium Cobras built their victory in the third quarter by outscoring PLS Hawks 22-10. They also won the first 18-14. Hawks dominated the second 19-18 and the fourth 19-13.

Nigerian Alao Solomon was the match’s joint top scorer with Servina after also amassing 18 points, while Daniel Victor added 12 and skipper Bernard Bristol 10.

G. G.