BNL Round 3: Mountaineers defeat Limpopo Pride

Here is the last round review presented by ESL.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Limpopo Pride (0-1) in Cape on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Mountaineers (4-2) 76-69. Mountaineers forced 20 Limpopo Pride turnovers. 27 personal fouls committed by Limpopo Pride helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for guard Luthando Mpano (180-95) who led his team to a victory with 17 points. Swingman Isaac-Luggude Kwate contributed with 18 points for the winners. Mountaineers' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Swingman Malven Kalubi answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds for Limpopo Pride. Mountaineers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Limpopo Pride will play on the road against Eagles (#10) in Potchefstroom and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Magic (4-0) added another victory to their record. This time they beat Limpopo Pride (0-1) in Johannesburg 73-69. It was a great evening for naturalized Portuguese forward Miguel Ferrao (205-96) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds. Reece Prinsloo helped adding 12 points and 15 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Cecil Nkhwashu (206-93) with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 20 rebounds. Magic will play against Northern Cape Z. (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Limpopo Pride will play against Eagles in Potchefstroom and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
The game in supposed to be also quite interesting. Mountaineers (4-2) played at the court of Northern Cape Z. (1-3). Mountaineers smashed Northern Cape Z. 112-86 on Friday. It was an exceptional evening for Luthando Mpano who led the winners and scored 22 points, 8 assists and 8 steals. Molelekoa Maqabe came up with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists for Northern Cape Z. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Mountaineers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Northern Cape Z. will play against Magic (#1) in Johannesburg and hope to win that game.
A very interesting game took place in Port Elizabeth. It ended with only one-point defeat on the road of Marlins (1-4) to East Cape W. (1-4) 66-65 in the fight for the seventh place. The best player for the winners was Siyabonga Ntlongweni who had a double-double by scoring 10 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. East Cape W.'s next round opponent will be Rhinos (#5) in Mbombela and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.

In the last game of round 3 Northern Cape Z. lost to undefeated Soweto P. on the road 65-87.
The most impressive performance of 3rd round was 18 points and 7 rebounds by Thibi Makgalamele of Egoli Magic.

East Cape W. - Kwa-Zulu Marlins 66-65

A very interesting game took place in Port Elizabeth. It ended with only one-point defeat on the road of Marlins (1-4) to East Cape W. (1-4) 66-65 in the fight for the seventh place. East Cape W. outrebounded Marlins 54-37 including a 36-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was swingman Siyabonga Ntlongweni who had a double-double by scoring 10 points and 12 rebounds. Lwazi Mapititza chipped in 12 points and 8 rebounds. Four East Cape W. players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was point guard Sibusiso Cele (175) who recorded 23 points and forward Landelani Ngubane (200-94) added 12 points respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. East Cape W.'s next round opponent will be Rhinos (#5) in Mbombela and it will be quite challenging to get another victory.
Top scorers:
East Cape W.: R.Jobson 12+2reb, M.Lwazi 12+8reb, S.Langa 11+5reb, N.Siyabonga 10+12reb+1ast, T.Gaborone 6+5reb+1ast, K.Kwanele 5+8reb+3ast
Kwa-Zulu Marlins: S.Cele 23+2reb+1ast, L.Ngubane 12+4reb+3ast, L.Reid-Laynes 9+4reb, M.Mthokozisi 8+8reb+1ast, N.Ntombela 5+5reb, K.Sem-Kim 3+1ast

Northern Cape Z. - Western Cape M. 86-112

The game in supposed to be also quite interesting. Mountaineers (4-2) played at the court of Northern Cape Z. (1-3). Mountaineers smashed Northern Cape Z. 112-86 on Friday. Mountaineers forced 48 Northern Cape Z. turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. It was an exceptional evening for guard Luthando Mpano (180-95) who led the winners and scored 22 points, 8 assists and 8 steals. The former international Kyle Maclean (188-94, college: Keuka) accounted for 16 points for the winning side. Five Mountaineers players scored in double figures. Molelekoa Maqabe came up with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists and Junior Matsietsa (200) added 21 points and 17 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively for Northern Cape Z. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Mountaineers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Northern Cape Z. will play against Magic (#1) in Johannesburg and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Western Cape M.: L.Mpano 22+4reb+8ast, K.Maclean 16+3reb+1ast, S.Lutho 13+2reb+3ast, K.Isaac-Luggude 12+3reb, B.Chadleigh 11+4reb+1ast, S.Dzingwa 11+2reb
Northern Cape Z.: M.Molelekoa 25+9reb+7ast, J.Matsietsa 21+17reb+3ast, M.Job 18+8reb+1ast, S.Louw 7+1ast, M.Zuko 6+1ast, B.Pietersen 4+1reb

Soweto P. - Northern Cape Z. 87-65

No shocking result in a game when Panthers (4-0) crushed Northern Cape Z. (1-3) in Johannesburg 87-65. Panthers dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Northern Cape Z.'s 34. Panthers forced 24 Northern Cape Z. turnovers. 28 personal fouls committed by Northern Cape Z. helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Lebohang Mofokeng (-92) who had a double-double by scoring 27 points and 14 rebounds. Swingman Tshepo Mogotsi (-92) chipped in a double-double by scoring 14 points and 19 rebounds. Five Panthers players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Molelekoa Maqabe who recorded 26 points and Nizaam Cader (195-80) added 11 points and 13 rebounds respectively. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Panthers' next round opponent will be Rhinos (#5) in Mbombela. Northern Cape Z. will play on the road against Magic in Johannesburg and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Soweto P.: L.Mofokeng 27+14reb+2ast, T.Mogotsi 14+19reb+2ast, D.Mitchell 11+4reb, T.Didier 11+3reb, C.Kabasele 11+3reb+2ast, K.Thabiso 4+3reb+1ast
Northern Cape Z.: M.Molelekoa 26+4reb+2ast, N.Cader 11+13reb+3ast, M.Job 10+10reb+2ast, J.Matsietsa 8+9reb+3ast, M.Zuko 3+1reb, S.Louw 3+4reb+2ast

Western Cape M. - Limpopo Pride 76-69

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Limpopo Pride (0-1) in Cape on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by Mountaineers (4-2) 76-69. Mountaineers forced 20 Limpopo Pride turnovers. 27 personal fouls committed by Limpopo Pride helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a good game for guard Luthando Mpano (180-95) who led his team to a victory with 17 points. Swingman Isaac-Luggude Kwate contributed with 18 points for the winners. Mountaineers' coach used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Swingman Malven Kalubi answered with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds and swingman Ernst Masimini added 17 points and 6 rebounds in the effort for Limpopo Pride. Four Limpopo Pride players scored in double figures. Mountaineers will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Limpopo Pride will play on the road against Eagles (#10) in Potchefstroom and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Western Cape M.: K.Isaac-Luggude 18+2reb, L.Mpano 17+4reb+1ast, S.Lutho 12+3reb+1ast, B.Chadleigh 8+9reb+3ast, S.Dzingwa 8+4reb+1ast, S.Benge 4+11reb+2ast
Limpopo Pride: E.Masimini 17+6reb+1ast, K.Malven 13+13reb+2ast, K.Tumelo 13+4reb, M.Jerry 11+7reb+3ast, S.Vlademir 8+3reb+1ast, L.Eddie 3+1reb

Egoli Magic - Limpopo Pride 73-69

Magic (4-0) added another victory to their record. This time they beat Limpopo Pride (0-1) in Johannesburg 73-69. Magic shot 23 for 33 from the free-throw line, while Limpopo Pride only scored seven points from the stripe. Limpopo Pride was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. It was a great evening for naturalized Portuguese forward Miguel Ferrao (205-96) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds. The former international swingman Reece Prinsloo (203-91) helped adding 12 points and 15 rebounds. The best for the losing side was center Cecil Nkhwashu (206-93) with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 20 rebounds and swingman Josias Malahlela scored 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Magic will play against Northern Cape Z. (#6) in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Limpopo Pride will play against Eagles in Potchefstroom and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Egoli Magic: M.Ferrao 18+13reb, M.Thibi 18+7reb+1ast, N.Adriano 15+6reb+5ast, R.Prinsloo 12+15reb, G.Kwazi 10+6reb+3ast, M.Mosebudi 0
Limpopo Pride: J.Malahlela 14+6reb+4ast, C.Nkhwashu 13+20reb+1ast, L.Johannes 11+6reb+2ast, E.Masimini 11+6reb+6ast, S.Vlademir 10+5reb+1ast, T.Banda 10+4reb



Tags : LUTHANDO MPANO, WESTERN CAPE MOUNTAINEERS, SOUTH AFRICAN BASKETBALL