Bravehearts Women Basketball Club has defended the annual Wits Lady Bucks Basketball Tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The sixth edition of the tournament attracted 10 teams and the Lilongwe-based side defied the odds to win all their five matches to seal a second international title after winning the Ashraf Lodewyk Memorial Basketball Tournament also in South Africa in May.
award. | Courtesy of Bravehearts
They beat Celtics 59-52 in the final on Sunday at Hall 29, West Campus of Wits University, according to www.wits.ac.za.
The two teams were tied 17-17 in the first quarter, but the Malawi representatives engaged an extra gear to lead 42-31 at half-time. They led 50-44 in the third quarter before wrapping it up in the last quarter.
In the semi-finals, Bravehearts beat VUT 71-31 while in the quarter-finals, they saw-off University of Johannesburg 44-34.
In the qualifying rounds, the reigning local national women’s champions beat Wits Lady Bucks 51-27 and VUT 42-22.
To add extra spice, Orlin Londo retained the Most Valuable Player Award.
In an interview yesterday, Londo attributed their success to team work.
“It was all about team effort, we all worked very hard. Otherwise, it wasn’t easy as we were up against very good sides. The coaches also prepared us well strategically,” she said.
Bravehearts chairperson Griffin Kalua said he was happy that after years of investment, they are reaping the rewards.
He said: “I am excited considering that we have invested a lot over the years and it’s only recently that the rewards have started to show. The ladies started achieving more international recognition before the men’s team.
“They are continuing the trend of performing well internationally. They have done exceptionally well.”
Kalua said the sustained achievements both locally and internationally show that the sport is on the right track.
“It’s exciting times. We are just coming from winning the local national championship, we also won the Cezobal Championship. Then, we went to Zambia and beat everyone. We went to South Africa and beat everyone. So, we are on the right path,” he said.
