All’D Stars and Blue Cats double their victories and stand alone at the top

The teams of All’D Stars and Blue Cats celebrated their second victory in this year’s Women’s Championship last night, defeating WNBA and ETHA Court Queens respectively, and now share the top spot with a 2-0 record.

The Larnaca team (All’D Stars) secured an important away win in Nicosia, beating WNBA 31-36, in a game broadcast live on our page. All’D Stars started the game much better than their opponents, taking a lead of up to +18 (13-31) early in the second half.

Just when it seemed that Chris Themistocleous’ team would comfortably secure their 2nd victory, the hosts had a different opinion and, with a prolonged comeback, brought the difference down to -3 (31-34) half a minute before the end. Nevertheless, the effort for a complete overturn by Marios Anaxagoros’ team did not materialize in the end, as the Larnaca players kept their composure in the final moments (especially from the free-throw line) and took the big win with 31-36. Elena Kalli was the top scorer for All’D Stars with 11 points, and Sofia Cheimonettou led WNBA with 8 points.

A little later in Agios Dometios, last year’s Champions, the Blue Cats, were initially tested but managed to achieve another success, prevailing over ETHA Court Queens with 53-38. ETHA’s Queens made things difficult for the Blue Cats in the first half, with the game moving on a thin line, and the break finding the two teams tied at 27-27. In the second half, however, the visitors’ offensive slump in the 3rd quarter (scoring only one basket), combined with the hosts’ sharp improvement, mainly on defense, definitively tilted the balance in favor of the Champions, who made the game their own, reaching their 2nd victory of the season.

The player-coach Athina Papagianni was the best performer for the winners, scoring 21 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and distributing 6 assists, followed by Maria Costa with 11 points. From Michalis Zakos’ team, Natia Athanasiou stood out with 16 points.