Underdogs UEL Unlucky to Lose Basketball Final
Underdogs UEL Unlucky to Lose Basketball Final
by Chris Deacon
University College London 70 (11, 31, 43)
University of East London 68 (12, 29, 54)
UEL Players: Colin Sing, Andrew Ellingford, Michael Chulu, Divine Jupe, Jamell Anderson, Richard Ese, Zac Gachette, Elson Castro, Robert Ogia, Jordan Henry (Capt.)
UEL Men’s 1st were unlucky not to win their BUCS South East Conference Cup Final after a game that saw the referee discard a point from their score.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Max Gvozdenovic was happy with the spirit his side had shown all year round;
“The boys have worked hard this season. For a team that have achieved this much in their first full year together I think they have done themselves proud. I don’t think we had a very good last quarter, the referees had a poor game and some of the defensive mistakes let us down today but I’m sure we’ll work on that and be even better next time around.”
The game started slowly with both teams looking uneasy in possession. It took a neat four points from Zac Gachette to set UEL up on offense and after that they continued to work hard. UCL were making it difficult to gain points quickly in transition with Jonathan Tipper making some great blocks and even snatching some turnovers. The first quarter ended with UEL only just edging the lead.
The second period got off to a better start and soon East London’s Richard Ese had checked in with his first points of the afternoon. Moments later UEL saw Andrew Ellingford turn his ankle after winning the ball from Ndu Okereke. The brave guard returned after a minute on the bench to ensure he sank two from the line as UCL were put under pressure. Pressure they quickly responded to as both Okereke and Athos Demetriou netted threes from the outside to see UCL go into half time with the lead.
UEL blasted out of the blocks at the start of the third quarter with a pace that UCL just couldn’t match. Five points from Colin Sing helped East London score a 10-0 burst that put the team well in control. Then there was uproar from the bench as the officials awarded UCL a point made from a UEL free-throw.
The table weren’t quick to admit a mistake and incredibly they denied any knowledge of the error until a full protest from Coach Gvozdenovic. The officials running the table – the people who control the main scoreboard - then took the point back from UCL but never added it back on to UEL’s tally. This time Coach Gvozdenovic politely asked the table to correct the error whilst play continued but the referee intervened. He blew his whistle then shouted at the Coach for approaching the table before allowing the ball to go back to UCL. It was incredibly unprofessional behaviour from the man in the middle and certainly disappointing to see the lack of respect he had for such an important game in the BUCS season.
The East Londoners entered the last 10 minutes in high spirits; they were 11-up and in control. Their luck soon changed and their defence came crashing down with it. Demetriou led the scoring for UCL on a 15-0 burst that turned the tables on a disheartened UEL. Point Guard Tristam Hubbard-Miles assisted the big Forward on his way to an astounding 18-point quarter. Ade Okeowo rounded off the Cup win as Jamell Anderson and Gachette just couldn’t turn their scores into a decent run approaching the final seconds. The game ended 70-68 (really 70-69) with UEL feeling hurt and confused as to how this game slipped away. The loss ended a long unbeaten run for East London who will surely be back again next year.
MVP went to UCL’s Athos Demetriou who scored a tidy 31 points all game and contributed greatly to his side turning the match around. Zac Gachette netted 27 and made some great steals to earn runner-up. Third place was awarded to Ade Okeowo of UCL who contributed 12 points and many assists.
Chris Deacon is a Sports Journalism student at the University of East London
Sports Programmes
- BSc Sport and Exercise Science
- BSc Sports Coaching
- BSc Sports Development
- BSc Fitness and Health
- PGCert Sports Rehabilitation
- MSc Exercise Science and Health
- MSc Sports Management
- MA Sports Media
- MSc Sports Media
