Quote of the week

“To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Champions KTA take big step towards playoffs as Rovers slip

KTA Pressure...
Champions KTA All-Stars had a good weekend...
There is only one week left in the National Basketball League (NBL) regular season and reigning champions KTA All-Stars will be smiling after a weekend in which they took a big step towards reaching the playoffs.

KTA came into this weekend’s action in sixth place and nervously looking into the top four playoff spots.

The champions faced real danger of missing the playoffs but thanks to a 67-24 win over LCE this afternoon and a costly slip by NUL Rovers, KTA have their playoff destiny – and title defence – in their own hands.

Rovers, meanwhile, will be kicking themselves because they were in control of fourth place, but two sloppy days have cost them dearly.

The weekend immediately got off to a bad start for Rovers as they lost 65-49 to Leseli Tigers on Friday night at Lehakoe Club. Rovers then suffered a crushing 45-41 loss at home to lowly Limkokwing University on Saturday which gave KTA the opening to steal fourth place.

KTA didn’t have things all their own way in that quest.

They were beaten 63-55 by second-placed Lichocha Shooting Rifles on Saturday in Roma, a defeat that will again raise questions over KTA’s credentials when the top four title playoffs begin.

However, KTA, who have won three of the past four NBL titles, will think about that later. They beat 69-27 Bokamoso North in their other game on Saturday and climbed into fourth with this afternoon’s 67-24 thumping of LCE.

The rest of the top four appears settled.
KTA are fourth with one week to go...
Log leaders Bokamoso South, who were beaten in the NBL finals by KTA last season, and Lichocha will be there. Third-placed Bashana Baheso, winners of their last four games, and KTA will most likely be there as well when the NBL season begins its business end.

In the ladies league, reigning champions Lichocha Shooting Rifles emphatically returned to the top of the table with a 100-12 mauling of Limkokwing University this afternoon at Lehakoe. The win was a bounce-back after Lichocha lost 43-36 to KTA ladies on Saturday in Roma. The champions are one point ahead of Bokamoso North who demolished KTA 41-8 on Saturday to make it five wins in a row.

With just a week to play, the top four teams for the playoffs in the ladies league are all but decided. Lichocha, Bokamoso North, NUL Rovers and KTA All-Stars will contest the national title.

All that is left is to decide the seedings. The NBL league season is scheduled to end next Sunday before the playoffs start.

NBL Weekend Results:
Friday (Lehakoe):
A-League
Leseli Tigers 65-49 NUL Rovers

Saturday (NUL):
A-League
KTA All-Stars 69-27 Bokamoso North
NUL Rovers 41-45 Limkokwing University
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 63-55 KTA All-Stars
Bokamoso South 76-25 LCE

Ladies
KTA All-Stars 8-41 Bokamoso North
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 45-21 NUL Rovers
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 36-43 KTA All-Stars
NUL 62-8 Limkokwing University

B-League
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 20-0 Bashana Baheso
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 28-30 South Warriors
South Warriors 20-0 Leseli Tigers

Sunday (Lehakoe):
A-League
Bokamoso North 59-56 Khubestate
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 66-54 Limkokwing University
LCE 24-67 KTA All-Stars

Ladies
Bashana Baheso 44-75 Leseli Tigers
Lichocha Shooting Rifles 100-12 Limkokwing University
LCE 0-20 KTA All-Stars

B-League
Bashana Baheso 0-0 Leseli Tigers

NBL Standings:
A-League


P
Points
W
L
PF
PA
Diff
Last 10
Streak
1
Bokamoso South
18
35
17
1
1143
703
9-1
440
W9
2
Lichocha           
18
33
15
3
1321
758
8-2
563
W6
3
Bashana Baheso
16
29
13
3
923
584
8-2
339
W4
4
KTA All-Stars
17
29
12
5
951
770
8-2
181
W1
5
NUL Rovers
17
27
10
7
879
736
6-4
143
L2
6
Leseli Tigers
17
25
9
8
882
913
5-5
-31
W1
7
Bokamoso North
19
24
5
14
651
956
3-7
-305
W1
8
Lerotholi
20
24
5
15
754
1155
2-8
-401
L3
9
Limkokwing
19
23
4
15
658
958
4-6
-300
L1
10
Khubestate
18
22
6
12
639
837
3-7
-198
L2
11
LCE
18
20
2
16
588
1035
1-9
-447
L9

Ladies


P
Points
W
L
PF
PA
Diff
Last 10
Streak
1
Lichocha
15
28
13
2
693
366
8-2
327
W1
2
Bokamoso North
15
27
13
2
494
177
9-1
317
W5
3
NUL Rovers
14
24
10
4
470
277
6-4
193
L1
4
KTA All-Stars
14
23
9
5
503
390
7-3
113
W2
5
Leseli Tigers
14
19
6
8
500
426
4-6
74
W1
6
Bashana Baheso
14
17
6
8
402
373
5-5
29
L2
7
Bokamoso South
13
14
3
9
229
456
3-7
-227
L1
8
Limkokwing
14
12
1
13
97
653
0-10
-556
L12
9
LCE
14
10
0
14
126
420
0-10
-294
L13

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