Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Maracanã team, senior female, sub-18 level, won last Sunday, September 3rd, the title of National Basketball Champion. The team from the Ponta d ́Água neighborhood, in the city of Praia, beat the Sarda Basketball School (EBS), from São Vicente, by 67-63 in the final held at the Polidesportivo de Oeiras in Mindelo, São Vicente.
Maracanã, which belongs to the sports region of Santiago Sul, also won the individual award for Best MVP, awarded to the player Jéssica Vaz.
For Maracanã coach Valdir Dias, quoted by Inforpress, the Federation needs to invest in women’s basketball because that’s “where the future lies”. He recalled that his athletes have been training in a field that is not covered and with precarious conditions, but even so they train every day.
About winning the championship, Valdir Dias, said that he instilled in the minds of the athletes that the game in the final would be different because “in the finals there are no strong teams”, but those who manage to play.
“It’s a game played and today we ran more and we were happy. I think it’s good for us to continue. On a personal level, I remember that the first time I coached the team, I told them that we would be regional champions in Praia and at the national level and that came true”, he said.
Jéssica Vaz: “Best Player of the Tournament”
According to the best MVP, Jéssica Vaz, from Maracanã, “the game was not easy”, but winning the title was due to “team determination”.
“We fought hard to get here. The last game was the most complicated and we knew we weren’t at home, but we ended up recovering points and winning”, he added, defending that being elected the “Best Player of the Tournament” has a lot of meaning, but he cannot express it with words.
The Under-18 Senior Women’s National Basketball Championship took place in Mindelo, São Vicente with the participation of the sports regions of Santiago, Sal and Santo Antão.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
