WU17 Bronze – One-off game
Sunday 11am – summer time has just begun on the clocks and about 100-150 fans have made their way to Lumo for WU17 bronze medal game between TikS and PuHu.
TikS were #2 in the playoffs, PuHu #4 seed, both were knocked out in two games in the semi’s – and thus play one-off game to decide the third place medals.
Who wins?
Now, I type this seven minutes before tip-off…
My own guess would be slightly towards #2 seeded TikS – where as an un-named coach from another team told me earlier that they think PuHu will come out as winners.
But – in two hours or so, we will know whether my guess based on the seedings and what I’ve seen from behind the camera, is more accurate than a guess of a person who coaches
First half
Nothing between the teams for most of the 20 minutes, then TikS made a run to take a 25-20 lead, only to be pegged back by PuHu with a 11-0 run (13-3 to end quarter) to lead 33-28 at the long break.
Aisla Tikkanen – PuHu(12 points) the leading scorer at the half, and the table being very stingy with Awak Deng – TikS – who definitely has more than the 5 rebounds we see in the stats.
Emilia Kari (8) and Hilla Hulden (7) the top scorers for the home team.
Second half
Looking like PuHu taking the iniative with TikS failing to score for the first 5 minutes of the third quarter – then tide turns and few big three pointers and TikS head to the last ten with a slender gap to claw back.
At some point in the fourth, you started to feel the momentum turn to the home team – Emilia Kari with big three, as well as other players.
It goes down to the wire and last posessions all matter a huge deal..and in the end.. the home crowd, coach and players get to celebrate.. a THRILLING by just few points… and BRONZE MEDALS for TikS !!!
Game was nervy, and not free flowing.. but – it was just what you expect from a one-off game to decide a medal!
I know something!
Referring to the pre-game prediction.. I was better at guessing the winner of this game than the coach… so, that will give me the bragging rights .. for now.
