The Social Cultural Association Uitvlugt (SCVU) experienced almost personally on Thursday evening that a basketball match was only played after the final whistle of the referees. After dominating the men’s main class meeting against defending champion Koi Carper for at least 80 percent, the team struggled immensely in the final phase, but eventually got through the eye of the needle: 73-72.
Text and image Terence Oosterwolde
In any case, it was an exciting end to the regular competition for the fans in the Ismay van Wilgen Sports Hall. The match between SCVU and De Arend, which was postponed on April 9 due to the walking march, will not be made up.
“It is less that we will now be sidelined for 2.5, almost three weeks”
SCVU coach Lesly Dhanradj
It was a great victory for SCVU on Thursday evening, as the leader was somewhat battered. For example, club top scorer Byorn Ewyk, key player Safiero Fraser, youth player Ishaan Lijkwan and inside man Abednejo End. In addition, added power forward Xavier Elburg only qualified in the second due to circumstances quarter with the team.
According to coach Lesly Dhanradj, Ewyk was not there, because he had five technical fouls in the previous seven matches. Article 25 of the Competition Rules of the Surinamese Basketball Association (SBA) states that “in the event of an accumulated number of five technical or unsportsmanlike fouls by a player, this player will be punished with an automatic suspension of one match and a fine of SRD 250”.
It was different with the rest. Lijkwan traveled to Panama with the SBA’s 3×3 selection for the South American Youth Games. Fraser was sidelined as a precaution due to a minor injury. “He can play, but I have decided to rest him,” Dhanradj explained afterwards the True Time.
‘Soesie’s half’
In any case, SCVU fearlessly entered the fray, with twenty-year-old Joshua ‘Soesie’ Soesman in particular making his mark. With eight points, including two three pointersin the last 2:42 of the first quarterhe ensured that the first ten minutes ended with a 22-20 lead.
Also in the second period the guard apply. After Gylan Watamaleo of Koi Carper had tied the score (24-24 with 8:46), Soesman gave with a field basket and a three pointer in successive attacks, the start of a 7-0 run: 31-24. His two free throws and a basket created a 37-29 advantage with 3:38 left.
In the last 2.5 minutes before half-time, first Koi Carper coach Ludwig Belgrave and then Elburg were punished with a technical foul by referee Romero Sabajo and referee Harold Meinzak respectively. SCVU headed to the locker rooms with a 42-37 lead.
Second half
In the third quarter SCVU continued to rule the roost, but Dhanradj was forced to intervene when Elburg made his fourth mistake halfway through the period. The score was then 49-43. Captain Kofi Vreden retired with one three pointer Koi Carper’s 6-0 run, but that team clearly smelled blood. A three-pointer by Chaïef Wielingen brought the champion within two points with 1:16 left (52-54), but a final basket by Jelani Leerdam with 3.5 seconds left gave SCVU a 56-52 lead.
The fourth quarter was barely six seconds old when Elburg took a three pointer launched: 59-52. After one tip-in from Jahmit Jambo (61-52) with 9:24 Koi Carper fled in a time-out. It did not immediately have the desired result, because Ronaldinho Esajas made it 63-52 from an assist from Soesman at 8:57, which was SCVU’s largest lead of the game.
However, the attack subsequently stalled due to static play turnoverswhich allowed Koi Carper to regain control of the game. A field basket and three pointer by Jermelcio Wartes and a three-point play van Wielingen reduced the deficit to three points – 60-63 – with 5:52.
A crucial moment followed at 3:25 when Koi Carper’s Daviero Dompig committed his fifth foul. Due to dangerous play, he was punished with an unsportsmanlike foul by referee Meinzak. Soesman, who is the layup had scored (70-64), missed the bonus free throw and was taken off due to the hard fall.
Exciting ending
Koi Carper was able to do so, partly because of the turnovers that piled up at SCVU, creeping closer and closer. Still, Elburg provided some more breathing space with a minute and a half to go: 72-68. But consecutive turnovers with Soesman’s fifth error in between ensured that the door remained ajar. The opponent took full advantage of this and with 15.9 seconds Kelvin Monkau of Koi Carper made it 72-72.
When it looked like extra time would have to be extended, Wartes committed a foul on Jambo with 1.5 seconds to play. The SCVU player converted the first free throw – 73-72 – and deliberately missed the second, leaving Koi Carper no time for a good final attack.
Soesman (19 points, including three three pointers) introduced four SCVU players double figures. The other three were Jeremy Hek with 14 (two three pointers), Jambo with 11 and Esajas (one three pointer) with 10 points. Dhanradj said that he had only asked his players for this match to fill the vacant spots. “And you can only do that by working hard on defense and being patient on offense.”
That assignment was carried out well for at least 80 percent of the game. According to the SCVU coach, the fact that things almost went wrong after the 63-52 lead was due to several factors. “A bit of pressure, the ball was slippery and too much dribbling instead of passing more. I asked them that too, but in the heat of the game you can say so much from the side… they just needed to fit more.”
Missed opportunity
For Koi Carper coach Ludwig Belgrave, it felt like a missed opportunity afterwards. “You have to motivate men to come and train,” he grumbled. “If those men don’t train, this is what you’re going to get. SCVU could be beaten today, but we put little energy into it. Some hustles, some don’t… then you’re not going to win. Collectively you win a match and the collective spirit wasn’t there,” he assessed.
Wartes led Koi Carper with one gaming high 25 points. Wielingen was the only other teammate in double figures with thirteen points. Both had one three pointer. It was remarkable that strongman Gylan Watamaleo (4 points), after being substituted in the last minute of the second quarter, was not brought back into the game after halftime. Belgrave is clear about this: “You can be the best player, but you should not make comments while you are being taken to the side… then you sit down.”
The Koi Carper coach also pointed out the poor competition on Thursday. “That inspiration is not there. The way the competition runs den man no abi zin fu kon train, mi e taigi yu. Mi no wan lon baka player for a month, a month and a half. There’s no point, right?! It takes too much of my energy. Then I’d rather put it in my children.”
Play-off
Faced with the reality that Koi Carper has yet to play in the play-off, Belgrave said he hopes that prospect will encourage his players to come and train more. “I hope so. It’s something I hope mi e taigi yu honestbut efu den man no e kon yu no man du neks.”
When asked, SBA competition leader Henk Rahan the True Time know that the play-off in the men’s main class starts on May 3 with the semi-final between Koi Carper and De Arend. There is a reason why the game will not be played until May 3 and not April 26 or 30. “We are giving the teams at least a week of preparation time before the play-off starts,” Rahan explained.
“SCVU could be beaten today, but we didn’t put much energy into it”
Koi Carper coach Ludwig Belgrave
After Sunday’s loss against De Arend – the first defeat after five consecutive victories – it was important for Dhanradj to win on Thursday. “To have a good time in the play-off anyway. It is therefore less that we will now be sidelined for 2.5, almost three weeks.”
Because there are only three teams, it was determined in advance that the number one after the general round – in this case SCVU – would be directly in the final. Numbers two and three – Koi Carper and De Arend – will be in one best of five semi-final series competing for second place in the final battle. Asked how he plans to cope with the period without competitions, Dhanradj replied: “Train hard anyway, play mutual matches and team building”.
