ALLEN D’CRUZ
DABOLIM: Goa-India lasses got off their Lusofonia Games Goa 2014 basketball campaign with a bang by registering a 110-45 victory against Macau at Dr SP Mukharjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao Plateau, on Friday.
Goa-India got the 65 points led through the efforts of Jeena Priyadarshan and Preeti Kumari, spearheading the attacks with 26 points and 17 points respectively and combining in four assists, nine turnovers and four steals.
Goa-India Coach Francisco Garcia also tested Goans Kezia Fernandes and Nelvie Mendes, with Kezia scoring three points and Nelvie making a good assist.
The host were leading for the entire first-half and outscoring Macau 68-22 in the one-sided second quarter with Preeti Kumari and Neenumol scoring three points.
Goa-India in the second half opened their game in emphatic style and restricted their visitors to just 31 points in the third quarter.
Macau’s Cheng Sou Chi opened the scoring for the team in the fourth quarter, but the match was beyond the reach of Macau as Goa-India moved further ahead with good attacking display and consecutive baskets from Preeti Kumari and Priyadarshan.
And the momentum carried till the last buzzer as the host plugged in series of baskets with the final score reading Goa-India 110-45 Macau.
“The team performed well though the players are under-21. The players need professional league exposure for improvements and experience,” Francisco Garcia mentioned post match.
“Mozambique have added senior players, who will be playing in Turkey later and both the fixtures are tough. It will be difficult to play them as we have not practiced much, though the team is young and talented,” added Garcia.
Garcia applauded Preeti Kumari for her brilliant performance and stated she is very good and a talented player, only height is to her dismay. But with good physic she can be a very excellent player.”
In another match, Mozambique men completely outclassed Macau 100-34 with Ubisse Elton and Manjane Edson scoring 22 and 20 points each.
