Promotion showdown in Kaarina?

Ura Basket vs WB-Pantterit – the top two in Men’s D1 B in mid-February. Was this also a possible preview of the promotion playoff game later in the spring??

Although I am sure teams like KTP, PeU-Basket and Kataja Basket Academy have some thoughts about that and plans to be in the promotion chase themselves.

Fouls..

Again, I just look at the game through my lens and see it that way. So – not saying this is professional game recap..

It felt like we were getting lots of fouls called in the game, although looking at the personal fouls in the stats. It was 29-22 .. so to be honest, NOT so bad really.

Maybe it felt like it, as on the last ten – Terrell Hopkins got ejected from the game, Ekene Adigwe and Garang Machol got their fifth fouls, then either both head coaches (Justice Graham and Arttu Mannelin) got a technical each. So the whistle was blown plenty.

Towa and Ekwere

Jelani Towa (26 points) and Aaron Ekwere (24 points) both had big games on the scoring – and Ekwere was putting on a highlight reel performance as well.

Reading Ekweres stats : 24 points – 7 rebounds – 8 assists – 6 steals – 1 block.

Not bad for a Friday night top of the table clash, although going 0-6 from long range – Aaron won’t be too happy with that!

The only double-double of the game went to Olli Kanerva of Ura Basket 29 points and 11 rebounds, this still not enough to help the home team win.

Entertainment for all

If you watch basketball to get entertained – then game like this was made for you. You had emotions, you had dunks, you had.. well, you had a game that offered passion.

Was is scrappy? Yes! Were there too many ‘silly’ fouls taken by both teams? Yes! Was it entertaining? Yes! Was the crown entertained? Yes!

Title credentials examined

It was a game where the winner would stand alone at the top of the Men’s D1B table.

Ura Basket did have lots of players missing – was it due to injury/illness?? What mattered was they they had a short roster, and it did show as the game went on.

WB-Pantterit really turned the screw on in the second half, and by the end of the game – the over 20 point win was maybe a harsh one. But also, Pantterit did keep the intensity high all the way to the end – so the result was a fair display of the form on the night.

So – now Pantterit are alone at the top of the league, with 5 rounds to go in Regular Season, and in a strong position to keep home court advantage until the end of the playoffs.

Stats Pack

Ura Basket : Aku Haikonen 10 points – Matias Diaz Suomela 11 points, Lukas Kalliomäki 7 assists – those the few who stood out from the even team.

WB-Pantterit : Joseph Tala 10 points, Leo Guday 12 points – 7 rebounds – 5 assists. Benjamin Paul Merchan 10 rebounds – 3 blocks.

What’s Next?

Ura Basket travel to Tapiolan Honka II for a mid-week game next week, to try to return to winning ways.

WB-Pantteri, rest until next weeks Sunday, when they welcome PuHu-Juniorit to a Helsinki local derby game in East Helsinki.