KTA All Stars crowned champions

Luciah Phahla

Maseru

KTA All Stars are Lesotho’s basketball kings once more.
KTA were crowned National Basketball League (NBL) champions last Saturday following a 81-61 Game 3 victory over Bokamoso South to take the of best of five NBL finals series 3-0.
It is the Khubetsoana based side’s second title in three years and third in five.
Speaking to thepost yesterday, Lesotho Basketball Association (LBA) public relations officer Ratšolo Molupe credited all the teams that took part in this year’s NBL playoffs.
He said the play-offs went smoothly even if there is still room for improvement.
There were plenty of surprises. Defending champions A-League champions Bashana Ba Heso (BBH) bowed out in the semi-finals the early while Bokamoso South surprised many by just making it to the finals.
However, in the end, Bokamoso’s inexperience told as they were overpowered in the finals by KTA.
“I think the playoffs went on very well and there is still a room for improvement,” Molupe said.
He added: “If you look at teams like Bokamoso, nobody thought they could make it to the finals and I think they have improved a lot although the competition (in the finals) was not balanced this year. Normally we reach game five to decide the champion, but it was one sided this year and the series only reached game three.”
Molupe said KTA used their experience to topple the youthful Bokamoso.
“Bokamoso has built a good foundation from which to compete. With the programmes that the club is doing and the good management they have, it will help them in the long run,” Molupe said.
In the Ladies League, Lichocha Shooting Rifles (LSR) walked away with the title, a result Molupe said was widely expected. Lichocha were the women’s champions last year as well.
Their road this year, however, was made easier by the forfeit of BBH in Game 3 of the sides finals series.
“I think Lichocha has been the strongest team in the league and a very good team. The disappointment would be for BBH who beat KTA to reach the finals. They had a poor attendance (of players) throughout and lost the third game by forfeit,” Molupe said.
Molupe reserved most praise for the development league which was playing its first season after being formed last year.
The inaugural title was won by Bokamoso South who beat Buffalos. Molupe commended the level competition displayed in the development league.
“Buffalo played very well in reaching the finals, and they led every game they played (in the finals series) but lost their games towards the end. Bokamoso were the better team but the competition was well balanced,” he said.
In conclusion, Molupe said the LBA will help the respective NBL champions with the M3 000 registration fee for the Swaziland Invitational International Basketball Tournament scheduled to take place at the end of this month.