DEFENDING Seychelles Basketball Federation (SBF) Cup champions Mont Fleuri could not do better than Anse Etoile Stars in the recent East, Central and Southern African Club Championship, played in Rwanda, after losing by 12 points (52-64) to K.P.A. from Kenya in the women's final, while PLS Hawks reached the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Participating in the championship for the first time in their young history, Mont Fleuri wanted to go a step further than rivals Anse Etoile Stars, unlucky losers in three finals in 1997, 1999 and 2000, but like their northern-based opponents they finished as runners-up.

But even after losing, the Mont Fleurians could take consolation that they managed to reach the final at the first attempt.

Mont Fleuri, whose Malagasy forward Lalatiana Razaiarisoa finished as the championship's Most Valuable Player (MVP), started their campaign with a 74-53 win over G2000 of Rwanda. Even if they lost 63-78 to LadyBucks of Uganda, they managed to top Pool A to meet Burundi's La Gazelle in the semifinal. The Mont Fleurians, coached by Lenny Aglaé, triumphed 67-46 over La Gazelle, Pool B runners-up, to set up a final clash with Kenya's K.P.A. which they lost.

"We are satisfied with our performance in Rwanda. Most of our players are young and inexperienced but they performed well throughout the competition and as a team we are proud of our achievement considering that we were competing in the championship for the first time," said captain and international guard Williana Dubois.

As for PLS Hawks, losers to local rivals Premium Cobras, former champions of the East, Central and Southern African Club Championship, in last year's semifinals, they again reached the last-four in their second participation but things turned sour for them at this stage of the competition.

The Hawks made a strong start in the competition as they finished first in their pool. They won their first match over home team A.P.R. on a tight score of 62-59 and their second victory was against Sadolin, another team from Rwanda, on a 77-65 score. They then walked over J.K.T. from Tanzania to finish with a maximum six points from three matches played.

When it looked like PLS Hawks would stretch their domination beyond the semifinal and possibly lift the championship trophy, things took a turn for the worse for coach Tony Juliette's team.

After losing the semifinal match 80-84 to Tanzania's Vijana, Hawks players complained of bias officiating and the team did not even turn up for their third-place play-off match against Rwanda's Power.

Contacted by phone, PLS Hawks manager Jimmy Esparon told Sports Nation that his team were let down by poor officiating.

"We are very disappointed about the way things turned out in the semifinal match. The officials were bias and this affected the morale of our young players. They therefore lost their concentration in the match which we lost," said manager Esparon. 

It is to be noted that the men's champions are Vijana who beat Kenya's representatives in the final.