Lusofonia Games basketball Day 3: Indian women lose but men prevail in a thriller

The basketball event rolled on into its third day at the multi-purpose indoor facility of the Goa University as part of the 3rd Lusofonia Games.

On the third day of basketball action, both the men and women of the host nation were to take the floor. Both teams faced tough competitors with the men playing against Angola and the women against Mozambique.

Here’s a round-up of all the basketball action on day 3:

Women’s Prelims

India vs Mozambique

Final Score: 46-92

After thrashing Macau by a margin of 65 points, Team India were brought back to the ground in resounding fashion after losing by 46 points to the team from Mozambique.

The first quarter of their previous game, the Indians were up by 29 points while in their next match, they were down by 10 and were consistently outscored by 10 or more points each quarter.

This is by no means the end of their campaign. In a group of four, the Indians have so far recorded a win and loss, with Angola as their opponents in their final contest of the Prelims.

Meanwhile Mozambique continued their dominance having won both their games. Their performance shows that the only real contenders for the gold in women’s could possibly be themselves and Angola.

Angola vs Macau

Final Score: 102-31

Macau could forget about a medal these games after their third consecutive loss in as many days. Their performance has only become worse with each game. They struggled to register points in double digits in any quarter of this game.

On the other hand, Angola began their campaign with a 71 points margin win, which will no doubt raise the spirit of the locker room. The most impressive aspect of their game was the damage they could inflict on both ends of the floor.

Apart from keeping their opponents from scoring double digits points in any quarter, Angola also averaged a healthy 25 points each quarter, thus increasing their control over the game with each period of play.

Men’s Prelims

Angola vs India

Final Score: 75-78

This was the first game in the tournament which was decided by less than 5 points. A game which was in the control of the Indians turned out to be quite a nail biter at the final horn.

The Indians, in their second contest, looked in complete control at halftime leading the game by 18 points. However in the second half of the game, the fight the opponents still had left in them started showing up, reducing India’s lead to only 8 heading into the final period of play.

Although they were outscored in the fourth quarter, the Indians held on for their second win in the competition and remain unbeaten.

Despite the loss Angola are positioned to make it past the prelims after Guinea Bissau, the third team in Group B lost both the matches it played.

Cape Verde vs Mozambique

Final Score: 56-67

After both beat Macau comfortably to register a win in their first game, the teams from Mozambique and Cape Verde were determined to stay unbeaten in the competition.

At the end of the contest, Mozambique succeeded in remaining unbeaten after defeating their opponents in a rare competitive match.

Mozambique always looked in control in a defensive minded game which saw the winning team average only 17 points per quarter.

Both teams are mostly likely to make it past the prelims after Macau, the other team in its group, has lost both its games.