JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
EBLK : VBW Arka Gdynia stopped . Overtime decided in Play Offs 2:2 . VBW Arka Gdynia lost to CCC Polkowice 74:79 (17:11, 27:20, 17:19, 8:19, d. 5:10)
In the fourth final match the basketball players of VBW Arka Gdynia were stopped by CCC Polkowice. This means that everything will be decided in Gdynia.
VBW Arka Gdynia lost after overtime with CCC Polkowice 74:79 (17:11, 27:20, 17:19, 8:19, d. 5:10) in the fourth final match of the play-off phase of Energa Basket League Women. Thus CCC Polkowice play on and fight for the finals is 2:2 in the rivalry to three wins .
CCC Polkowice broke the series of victories of Arka Gdynia and they still had a chance to win the championship. But their situation looked only a little better, because they were losing in the series 1:2 and to think about the title they had to win also today. At the beginning the game was balanced, and the home team was leading 9:8 after six minutes. Arka, however, recorded a series of 6:0 and after the first quarter led 17:11. Already in the first minute of the second part of the game the visiting team gained a double-digit advantage – 21:11. The domination of the defending champions lasted until the end of the first half, after which they led 44:31.
The next minutes were a show of tough, aggressive defense by both teams and scoring points came with great difficulty. The Polkowice players at one point reduced the gap to eight points (44:52), but then the important points were scored by Marisa Kastanek, who already had four fouls on her account and Arka again jumped ahead (44:57). CCC started the last quarter with a loss of 11 points (50:61).
The fourth quarter was the best performance of CCC Polkowice team less than three minutes before the end of the game Gdynia led only 69:64. At the end the players of coach Karol Kowalewski showed great determination. Weronika Gajda’s game should be appreciated, as befits the captain she kept a cool head. Once again the rookie in Energa Basket League showed her class, Klaudia Gertchen. Polish-born player from Rawicz, playing on the position number 4 stopped Artemis Spanou. With 1:52 to go Kamile Nacickaite points gave the Orange 69:69 tie (after 14:0 series). 4 seconds to go, 5th foul by Keisha Hampton, ball for the championship for Arka intercepted by Aaryn Ellenberg. The score 69:69 was already visible on the board.
In the extra time the effectiveness did not leave the Home team, which scored mainly from the free throw line. The turning point, however, was an ineffective action by Marissa Kastanek at 43 seconds before the end. Aaryn Ellenberg-Wiley set the score with accurate free throws. Full 45 minutes was played by Alice Kunek (1/7 for three), who threw 24 points and collected 12 balls. However, the team’s efficiency from behind the 6.75 line (4/24) was poor, which in every match was the main weapon of the team from Pomerania.
We controlled the match for 35 minutes, and despite that we lost. CCC defended themselves and won in their own arena twice, and now it’s time for the match number five in Gdynia. In our own hall we also won twice and we hope that we will do it for the third time. Today’s game we lost on our own request, not won by rivals. Argka Gdynia coach Gundars Vetra gave an interview
We are very happy with the win, because we suffered a lot in this game practically from the beginning. We had to “sew” very hard in this match and the fact that we succeeded makes us even happier. We showed great character, especially in the second half and we pulled out this match. It’s a pity that there are no fans here with whom “miracles” would happen. Arka came out today with a huge commitment and I think that it was also visible on the ‘board’. That didn’t help us, because if you have a good defense we were getting second chance points. Before the deciding game we need to analyze everything and improve what we need to do. The interview was given by the coach of CCC Polkowice Karol Kowalewski
The Board of the Polish Basketball Association decided on Thursday that the match for the bronze medal of the Polish championship between PolskaStrefaInwestycji Enea Gorzów Wlkp. and KS Basket 25 Bydgoszcz, which was to take place in Gorzów Wlkp. on Sunday, will not take place.
The reason for the change of the decision is the prolonged quarantine in the team of the Bydgoszcz players, who have been infected with the coronavirus – wrote the announcement of PZKosz.
Both teams will be classified ex aequo on the third place in the 2020/2021 season, and they will be awarded cups and medals.
CCC Polkowice – VBW Arka Gdynia 79:74 after overtime (11:17, 20:27, 19:17, 19:8, 10:5)
Referees: Marcin Koralewski, Bartosz Puzoń, Mateusz Skorek | Commissioner: Maciej Kucharski
CCC: Ellenberg-Wiley 13, Stanković 24, Gajda 13 (3×3), Gertchen 8 (1), Hampton 4 and Nacickaite 17 (2), Kantzy 0, Telenga 0
Arka: Kunek 24 (1), Spanou 11, Miškinienė 10, Kastanek 9 (1), Balintova 6 and Greinacher 14 (2), Morawiec 0
