BASKETBALL NATIONAL LEAGUE WEEK 2 REPORT
Written by Neo Molefi on July 3, 2024
Written by: Bafokeng Mothebe
The second week of the Basketball National League (BNL) continued over the weekend of 29 and 30 June 2024, at the Mandeville Indoor Centre in Johannesburg.
Tshwane Suns (W) 44-56 Free State Warriors (W) (Saturday 29 June 2024 at 17H00)
The first game of the weekend was the Women’s league match between the Tshwane Suns and the Free State Warriors at 17H00. The intense encounter between the women’s teams culminated with a 18-24 half time score to the Warriors women. The second half of the encounter saw a scoring spree by the Free State side, to secure the win, with a final result of 44-56 for the Free State Warriors women’s side.
Tshwane Suns 63-82 KwaZulu Marlins (Saturday 29 June 2024 at 19H00)
In the second game on Saturday, the Tshwane Suns men side took on the KwaZulu Marlins from Kwa-Zulu Natal. The Marlins won the tip of, and soon thereafter they registered their first points (2 pointer). This quarter registered 2 dunks from the Pretoria based outfit, which among other scoring, the quarter ended in favour of the Suns, with a 17-12 lead over the Marlins. The second quarter saw the Marlin put in a valiant effort, closing out the half with a 39-33 lead. The second half saw the Marlins extend the lead significantly when the Marlins led at the end of the third quarter by 61-50, while team from Natal, eventually went on to seal their first match of the campaign, by 82-63 over the Suns. The Marlins’ Sifiso Gininda was the game Most Valuable Player (MVP) with a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds.
KwaZulu Marlins 59-57 Egoli Magic (Sunday 30 June at 15H00)
The first game for Sunday was the men’s game between the KwaZulu Marlins and the Egoli Magic, who played their first game of the season. Both teams played an incredible brand of basketball, from the very first whistle. Storm Gilchrist from the Marlins, was named the MVP, with 8 points and 21 rebounds. The game concluded 59-57 with a narrow Marlins win.
Free State Warriors (W) 40-62 Egoli Magic (Sunday 30 June at 17H00)
Free State Warriors and Egoli Magic women displayed much intensity in their encounter. In the second quarter with 08:18 remaining, the magic led by 22-30, which eventually culminated in a 40-62 resulted for the Johannesburg based ladies’ outfit, at the end of the fourth quarter.
The BNL continues on Saturday 13 July, when the North West Eagles and MBB women take to the court at 17H00, while the men’s encounter between Soweto Panthers and the Limpopo Pride takes place at 19H00. On Sunday 14 July, the Western Cape Mountaineers women play the North West Eagles at 13H00, while Mpumalanga Rhinos men tip off against the Limpopo Pride men at 15H00.