Kutlwano, Diphatsa win Capital Motors championships

Teichler Rankoa | Monday September 29, 2014 09:03

 

The final match Kutlwano and Kalavango was exciting as both teams produced sublime performance in their fight to win the championship. However, it was the defending champions, Kutlwano, who ended up on the winning side. Kutlwano retained the title after a tough deciding set after the two sides played 2-2.

The Big House as Kutlwano are affectionally called by their supporters, showed their intentions in the first set. They were all over their opponents, attacking them through their experienced players including  Tebogo Sejoe, Thapelo Kamperuka and Daisy Golekanye. The Big House won the first set by 25 points to Kalavango’s 14. Based on the score of the first set, spectators were convinced that Kutlwano are going to ride over Kalavango and win the game with easy, but that was not to be.

Kalavango came up a different recuperated side and produced dramatic come back in the second set. Tsaone Lemphitlhetse’s serves proved too difficult for Kutlwano’s blockers, while Monicah Alfred and Gabaresepe Mashaole played well scoring important points. Kutlwano lost more balls from their setter, who showed a bit of inexperience during the game. Most of her balls went above the line earning Kalavango simple goals.

It was Lizzy Gaokgonwe who showed the spectators and opponents that truelly experience counts. She put Kutlwano players under immense pressure with her dangerous balls. Kalavango snatched the second set with a by 25-23.

The third set as anticipated was interesting. Kalavango took the lead and looked promising to win it again. However, despite at one point leading 24-19, they failed to get just one ball to finish the set. Kutlwano leveled the score before Setch Matsweri smashed a powerful ball to make it 25 for her team.

In the fourth set Kutlwano wanted to wrap the game and run away with winners’ cheaque and trophy, while on the other side Kalavango wanted to balance the score sheet to force the game into another set. Keromemang Pitso gave Kutlwano players a hard time with her powerful balls and this earned them second victory of 25- 21. Both teams having won two sets each, the game went into the deciding set, but it was Kutlwano who wrapped it up by 15- 13 to win the title.

Kutlwano coach, Popo Opelo said the game was tight and they did not expect Kalavango to give them such a hard time. He admitted his side made mistakes and their opponents pushed harder to punish them. He was however happy that his charges managed to clinch the title.

Kalavango’s coach Makgetla Gareanna said he was happy with his players’ performance but was worried that their plan to use a young player as a setter did not work properly. Kutlwano pocketed P20, 000 and a trophy.

 

Meanwhile, in the men’s final, Diphatsa who got into the courts as underdogs managed to punch above expectations to emerge champions after edging out Police VI 3-2.