3 heavy defeats in Egypt for 3×3 Team BW
Botswana men’s 3×3 basketball team came crashing back down to earth in the just ended Africa Cup, their dreams dashed in humiliating style.
Going into the tournament in Cairo, Egypt, Team BW had high hopes of improving on their fifth place finish at the previous edition in Uganda three years ago.
This wasn’t to be the case as the local lads were soundly beaten in all three of their group games.
The tournament got off to a shaky start with a 15-7 loss to Rwanda on Saturday.
It was a sign of things to come. Taking to the court for their second match against Madagascar later in the day, Botswana had no answer to the Islanders pace and power, eventually falling to a 16-9 defeat.
They saved the worst for last.
Up against the top ranked side, they were taught a harsh lesson by the hosts, swept aside 21-10 by a ruthless Egypt – a score-line that brought the game to a premature end before the full 10 minutes had elapsed.
Reflecting on the eye-opening African adventure, which saw his side’s continental ranking drop from 5th to 7th, National Team Coach, Tiro Serumola remained upbeat.
“I think we tried our best even though we lost three games, looking at the fact that most of the teams we were seeded with in our group are experienced. It was always going to be difficult for our boys as we had brought young players,” he told Voice Sport on Wednesday
“All our opposition played with aggression which was a big challenge for us because of the body structure of our players. I feel we were also a bit slow while our oppositions were speedy and that is one of the things that we are going to work on in 2023,” added Serumola.
Concluding the interview on a positive note, the tactician said, “We are going to the drawing board as we usher in a new year and hopefully, glory will come home.”
In the end, two of Botswana’s Group A opponents, Madagascar and Egypt made it all the way to Monday’s final.
In an absorbing contest, it was the Madagascans, the lowest ranked team going into the comp, who pulled off a shock, defeating the defending champions 20-17 to lift the trophy.
