Wolves run riot as Heroes Cup last eight is sealed
Unam Wolves have laid down an early marker in the Khomas Basketball Association (KBA) Heroes Cup after running riot in their opening two Group D encounters last weekend.
Wolves followed Saturday’s commanding 75-42 victory over Team Allies at the BAS Basketball Courts in Katutura by racing to an extraordinary 72-0 half-time lead against Leopards at Unam Gym Hall on Sunday, before Leopards forfeited the encounter.
Across the six quarters they played, Wolves outscored their opponents 147-42. Vice-captain Mevin Muhinda made no secret of how comfortable Saturday’s 33-point victory over Team Allies had been.
“It was an easy game. Even before it started, we already knew we were going to beat them. [Playing in this Cup] will help us work on our defence,” he said.
Muhinda said Wolves are using the tournament to sharpen different aspects of their game ahead of their KBA Premier League playoff series against archrivals Unam Rebels.
“[Playing Team Allies] was like practice for us,” he remarked.
Not alone at the summit
Wolves are, however, not alone at the summit of Group D, with Unam Cadets also winning both of their opening matches.
Cadets dispatched Leopards 84-57 before being made to work harder for a 79-72 victory over Team Allies, setting up a meeting with Wolves to decide who finishes top of the group.
The same scenario has unfolded across all four men’s groups, where two teams have opened with two victories while the remaining two are winless, sealing the men’s quarter-final field with one group match remaining.
The tournament format sees the top two teams from each four-team group advance to the quarter-finals, with the final group matches determining first and second place.
In Group A, QBC and Nust Gladiators have secured passage to the last eight.
QBC remarkably sit on two victories without taking to the court after Unam Knights and Afro Stars II both failed to show up for their encounters, handing them successive 20-0 forfeit wins.
Gladiators also benefited from a 20-0 forfeit against Afro Stars II before earning their first victory on court with a 58-40 win over Knights.
Other strong performers
Unam Rebels and Unam Penguins advanced from Group B, with Penguins among the more impressive performers after recording both victories on court.
They beat Unam Pacers 59-30 before powering past Plaza Warriors 62-34, scoring 121 points while conceding only 64 across the two matches.
Rebels received a 20-0 victory following Plaza Warriors’ late arrival before putting 61-39 past Pacers.
Nust Reapers and Unam Wolves II are through from Group C. Reapers beat QBC II 60-42 before being handed a 20-0 forfeit victory over Afro Stars, while Wolves II followed their own 20-0 win over Afro Stars with a 77-67 victory against QBC II.
The women’s competition also produced a dominant start from Unam Phoenix, who have already completed their two Group A matches.
Phoenix routed a youthful KBSL All-Stars side 43-16 before putting BAS Falcons away 50-17 to finish their group programme unbeaten, having outscored their opponents 93-33.
In Group B, Ongos Shooting Stars opened their campaign with a 59-44 victory over Nust Dodgers, while Dodgers had earlier been awarded a 20-0 win following Unam Ignites’ no-show.
The women’s group stage comprises three teams per group before the competition progresses to its qualification and knockout stages.
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