Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-18 02:45:00
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| The U-Magis basketball team wins the Smatchin basketball tournament for the second consecutive year. |
The Smatchin team successfully organized the tenth edition of the interuniversity basketball tournament, which once again saw U-Magis emerge victorious.
The rematch of the 2022 Smatchin tournament final played at the Mahamasina Sports Palace on Sunday evening ended in favor of the U-Magis players who won with a score of 65-50 (14-14, 5-16, 25-4, 17-16) against the Esmia players. This match marked the conclusion of the tenth edition of the interuniversity basketball tournament called “Smatchin.”
With a packed sports palace, the show was on point because, apart from the basketball game, various performances took place to mark the final in grandeur. The two teams ended the first quarter with a score of 18-14.
The second quarter was dominated by the Esmia basketball players who scored 10-0 to lead 28-18 halfway through the second quarter. The U-Magis players only scored 5 points, and the two teams ended the half with a score of 23-30.
The U-Magis University basketball players showed a new face at the start of the third quarter. They quickly caught up to a score of 29-30 before taking the lead 31-30, then 33-30 with an Alley-oop from Joelison after three minutes of play.
Fatigued Players
U-Magis led 41-32 with two minutes and fifteen seconds left in the third quarter. Their players widened the gap with a 3-point shot from Manu or Emmanuel, the former member of Ankoay U18 during the Afrobasket 2022 in Madagascar, 44-32, then 46-34, and finally 48-34. End of the third quarter.
The Esmia basketball players tried to recover at the start of the fourth quarter by scoring 3 points, 48-37, but Manu had a response by scoring 3 points, 51-37 then 51-39. Midway through the final quarter, the score was 55-43 for the reigning champion who solidified their reign. Points continued to accumulate, and within two minutes, the U-Magis players led 58-47 then 60-49. The game was decided as, with fifty seconds left, U-Magis led by 60-49 before closing the match with a score of 65-50. End of the game.
Eric Sandy Ravelomanantsoa expressed regret: “My players are very tired due to the succession of matches. Some players did not follow the instructions. We gave it our all, but we did not succeed. We will try to do better next year.”
Ismaël Zama, known as Keving, U-Magis coach, was more comfortable: “My players showed total confidence in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, there was a lapse. Then, we analyzed our opponents’ attacks to better counter them in the fourth quarter. We managed to retain our title, and that’s essential. I congratulate my players.”
Donné Raherinjatovo
Read the original article(French) on lexpress.mg
