Mangaung secured a bronze medal in the Under-21 A Section at The SPAR National Championship after beating Royal Bafokeng 49-40 in the third-place playoff.
Meanwhile, Cape Town edged Tshwane 56-55 in a thrilling Senior A Section final to lift the title, while Mangaung also produced a strong showing in the senior competition, beating Johannesburg 45-44 to finish third.
Mangaung’s Under-21 campaign highlighted the team’s resilience and togetherness, with the players responding positively to their coach’s leadership throughout the tournament.
The coach praised the players for embracing her approach and, more importantly, for creating a group that worked together and remained committed to the team’s objectives.
But I’m incredibly proud of the girls and how they’ve received me, firstly myself as a leader, but as a coach as well. So, it’s all their work. You can be good as a coach, but if the players are not receiving it well, results are not going to come… And we’ve been the lucky ones to receive a group that just clicks and wants to go.”
In the Under-21 A Section final, Johannesburg dominated Tshwane 52-38 to claim the championship.
Johannesburg’s Shilo Baradelli led the individual awards by winning Best Shooter, while Tshwane’s Naledi Mokoa claimed Best Mid-Court Player. In addition, Tshwane defender Kimberley Amiras earned the Best Defender award, while Johannesburg’s Boitumelo Mokoena took home the Player of the Tournament accolade.
In the Senior A Section, Cape Town narrowly overcame Tshwane 56-55 to secure the title. Mangaung, meanwhile, edged Johannesburg 45-44 in the third-place playoff to complete the podium.
Tshwane’s Ine-Mari Venter won Best Shooter, while Johannesburg’s Sanelisiwe Ntobela earned Best Mid-Court Player honours. Cape Town’s Asemahle Dyidi took the Best Defender award, while Tshwane’s Luca Keun emerged as the Player of the Tournament.
Results
Senior A Section- Final: Cape Town 56-55 Tshwane
3rd-place playoff: Mangaung 45-44 Johannesburg
Best Shooter: Ine-Mari Venter (Tshwane)
Best Mid-Court Player: Sanelisiwe Ntobela (Johannesburg)
Best Defender: Asemahle Dyidi (Cape Town)
Player of the Tournament: Luca Keun (Tshwane)
Under-21 A Section
Final: Johannesburg 52-38 Tshwane
3rd-place playoff: Mangaung 49-40 Royal Bafokeng
Best Shooter: Shilo Baradelli (Johannesburg)
Best Mid-Court Player: Naledi Mokoa (Tshwane)
Best Defender: Kimberley Amiras (Tshwane)
Player of the Tournament: Boitumelo Mokoena (Johannesburg)
Photo: Gallo Images/Ashley Vlotman