The Midlands Basketball league has kept unfolding surprises just within the third week of the Midlands Basketball super league with giants losing to underdogs and understaffed clubs grabbing maximum points in an unusual fashion.
Hawks yesterday beat Unza Pacers 70-53, result many basketball fanatics did not expect. Just last week, Hawks suffered a loss at the hands of a highly spirited and energetic Munali Suns in their first game of the season.
Hawks coach Osward Kalamba said his side played for everything as they did not start the season on a good note.
“I only had six players on the bench when we played our first game because some of them had incomplete transfers while others left to clubs. I knew I would bounce back,” said Kalamba.
Meanwhile on Friday 27th July, 2018, the Lusaka City Council sponsored side Looters narrowly escaped a loss against Zambia National Service side, Green Eagles. The ZNS guys only lost lead in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter to allow Looters win 73-63.
Green Eagles coach Aggrey Kapalata said lack of experience costs his side as they have not won a game so far. “My team is a newly promoted one to the super league and most of my players have no experience. They are coming from the B league and my experienced players are engaged with national duties,” said Kapalata.
“I have a task to teach them composure and endurance especially that we always lose in the dying minutes of the game,” added Kapalata.
Looters coach Kenny Nkandu however said he was happy with the results and expressed confidence in his young side that has two new additions to the team.
In other results, Matero Magic used a stronger spell to beat Napsa Hurricanes 84-53 while Bulldogs beat a staggering Denvers 85-67.
With smaller clubs taking down bigger ones, Matero Magic and Unza Pacers will not have it easy in the championship this season.