QBC put playoff-chasing Gladiators to the sword

Quality Basketball Club (QBC) remain on course in their Khomas Basketball Association (KBA) Premier League title defence after brushing aside Nust Gladiators 74-56 in their final regular-season match to secure the top seed for the playoffs.The high-stakes encounter was held at Unam Gym Hall in the capital on Sunday and carried greater significance for Gladiators, who are chasing a playoff berth after results in the round saw them drop from fourth to sixth on the log.The defeat denied Gladiators an opportunity to strengthen their grip on the fourth and final playoff place, but their hopes remain alive.Gladiators are level on 15 points with fourth-placed Afro Stars and fifth-placed Unam Penguins, while holding a game in hand over Penguins.They are therefore left with little margin for error when they face Afro Stars this Friday in a direct battle for the final playoff berth.The sides’ first meeting of the season in May saw Afro Stars prevail 73-68. Shilongo Nekundi’s men will therefore have another opportunity to avenge that narrow defeat.QBC complete season doubleGladiators’ latest defeat to the league leaders completed a season double for QBC, who had earlier overpowered them 73-51 in April.This time around, Gladiators drew first blood by getting on the scoreboard inside the opening 11 seconds for a 2-0 lead, which proved to be their largest of the match.QBC quickly took control and set the tone by opening a 12-4 advantage midway through the first quarter before closing the period 23-8 ahead.Gladiators were more competitive in the second quarter and matched QBC 9-9 over the final five minutes.However, it was not enough to make up for QBC’s strong start, with the defending champions winning the period 21-17 to take a commanding 44-25 halftime lead.Gladiators briefly reduced the deficit after the interval by outscoring QBC 5-3 during the opening five minutes of the third quarter. QBC responded strongly to win the period 12-9 and stretch their lead to 56-34.QBC’s longest unanswered scoring run was 13 points and ended with them leading 62-34, their largest advantage of the encounter.Gladiators later answered with an eight-point run and won the fourth quarter 22-18, but the contest had already been decided. QBC led for 39 minutes and 26 seconds, while Gladiators held the advantage for only 11 seconds.Perimeter gap proves decisiveBoth teams made the same number of two-point field goals at 21, giving each side 42 points from inside the arc.The entire 18-point winning margin came from QBC’s advantage beyond the arc and at the free-throw line. They made seven three-pointers compared with Gladiators’ two and converted 11 free throws to their opponents’ eight.Gladiators therefore offered little perimeter response to QBC’s greater shooting volume.Despite outscoring QBC 40-36 in the paint, Gladiators needed 65 attempts to make their 20 paint baskets, while QBC converted 18 of 45 attempts.Gladiators generated enough possessions to compete, taking 89 field-goal attempts to QBC’s 87 and collecting 20 offensive rebounds compared with QBC’s 22. However, Gladiators missed 66 field-goal attempts, while QBC missed 59.In the end, Gladiators’ inability to convert consistently around the rim hurt them.Another bright spot for QBC was their depth, with their bench outscoring Gladiators’ reserves 26-16.Samuel Waendama (#8) supplied 15 of QBC’s 26 bench points, while João Saponde (#12) contributed five points and 11 rebounds in only 15 minutes on the court.Gladiators received 11 bench points from David Omalu (#5) and five from Carlos Phiri (#1), but three players did not enter the match. Their shorter rotation left them with fewer sources of scoring and rebounding support.QBC’s top performersQBC’s Kevin Kazadi (#10) produced arguably the most influential performance despite scoring only eight points.He finished with a game-high 18 rebounds, four assists, four steals, four blocked shots, a game-high efficiency rating of 27 and a +20 plus-minus.Nkinda’s four blocks accounted for two-thirds of QBC’s total. He was also only one assist, one steal and one block away from recording at least five in each of the five major statistical categories.Yaurovandu “Yauraa” Ndjavera (#11) led QBC’s scoring with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, complemented by three assists, one steal, one block and a game-high +22 plus-minus.He also made four of QBC’s seven three-pointers, providing more than half of their scoring from beyond the arc.Reflecting on the achievement, which saw QBC cruise into the playoffs as the top seed, Ndjavera made no secret of his desire to face player-coach Allan Nghixulifwa’s Unam Wolves in the final.“[I definitely] want to face Wolves. Allan has been talking a lot about us,” he said, before adding: “See you in the finals.”Wolves are currently second on 20 points from 11 matches. They are due to face third-placed Unam Rebels in a Super Friday derby at Unam Gym Hall in the sides’ final regular-season encounter.Rebels sit on 17 points, meaning victory can only take them to 19. The match will therefore largely be for bragging rights and momentum ahead of their best-of-seven playoff series against the same opponents.QBC will face either Afro Stars or Gladiators in their playoff series, with Ndjavera hoping victory will set up his desired final against Wolves.Gladiators’ standout playersJonathan Bakome (#8) produced Gladiators’ strongest all-round performance in their second defeat of the season to QBC.He posted a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds, complemented by four steals, three blocks, 5/11 shooting from the field and an efficiency rating of 24.KayCee Alexander (#2) was Gladiators’ leading scorer with 15 points and their most disruptive defender, adding eight rebounds, a game-high six steals and three assists.Reflecting on his side’s performance, he admitted that much still needs to be done to improve their finishing.“We were missing a lot of layups. There were so many layups that most of us could have made, myself included. We’re going to fight more against Afro Stars. We have a whole week to train and [be ready] to fight for the playoff spot,” he said.Women’s playoff field decidedMeanwhile, in the KBA women’s premier league, Unam Phoenix remain top of the standings on 21 points with one regular-season match remaining.Their latest victims were BAS Falcons, whom they beat 71-43 at Unam Gym Hall.The four playoff teams have already been decided, with Ongos Shooting Stars sitting second on 21 points after completing all 12 matches.Third-placed Nust Dodgers, on 16 points, and fourth-placed BAS Falcons, on 15, still have to meet in a battle for third place. The date of their encounter is yet to be confirmed.– mariud@nsh.com.na

QBC put playoff-chasing Gladiators to the sword

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QBC put playoff-chasing Gladiators to the sword

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