JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
VBW Arka Gdynia defeated at home CCC Polkowice 97:69 in the fifth final match of the play off phase of Energa Basket League Women. The basketball players defended the championship of Poland. It was the most convincing victory in the whole series of five meetings. The MVP of the finals was Alice Kunek, who on Sunday evening scored a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds on her account.
For Arka, this is the 13th championship in the club’s history. The second in a row, but in the previous season due to the coronavirus pandemic it was not possible to organize the play-off phase. CCC won the tenth medal has now three golds, four silvers and three bronzes.
In Polkowice CCC won twice, including in the second match making up for the losses and triumphing after overtime. The favourite of the decisive clash was the home team, which had won all the matches in this season until the final, and had the advantage of their own court.
The meeting started with Weronika Gajda hitting a three-pointer, but the locals responded with a series of 13 points and in the 5th minute they were leading by 13:3 after the same throw by Kunek.
The timeout taken by coach Karol Kowalewski was effective for the whole team, which after accurate shots from behind the line of 6.75 Klaudia Gertchen and Kamile Nacickaite leveled the loss by 3 points. (19:22).
Weaker start did not discourage the Polkowice players, who quickly came back to the game and in the 12th minute after the action 2+1 Aaryn Ellenberg-Wiley were losing only 22:24.
In the second quarter more effective CCC actions brought the effect (25:27), but they did not manage to lead to a tie. From that moment VBW Arka switched on the “fifth gear” and with consecutive actions worked out a 13-point lead (45:32).
The third quarter. They scored eight points in a row (Balintova was the author of five) and in the 22nd minute it was already 53:32. In the 26th minute after two free points of the Slovak playmaker Arka won 64:41.
CCC Polkowice itself forcing the Gdynia players to play that meeting was a success, because before the final Arka had not lost on the national courts even once.
The match deciding about the gold did not turn out exciting. The home team was increasing the advantage from quarter to quarter, and in the middle of the last quarter it was even 97:59.
It became clear who would be able to celebrate the triumph and winning the gold medal. Eventually, Arka won by 97:69.
VBW Arka Gdynia – CCC Polkowice 97:69 (24:19, 21:13, 35:18, 17:19) State 3:2.
VBW Arka Gdynia: Alice Kunek 27, Barbora Balintova 24, Marissa Kastanek 12, Sonja Greinacher 12, Artemis Spanu 11, Laura Miskiniene 11, Aldona Morawiec 0, Kamila Borkowska 0, Amalia Rembiszewska 0.
CCC Polkowice: Klaudia Gertchen 14, Aaryn Ellenberg-Wiley 13, Keisha Hampton 10, Dragana Stanković 10, Kamile Nacickaite 9, Weronika Gajda 6, Alicja Grabska 4,Weronika Telenga 3, Amanda Kantzy 0, Patrycja Tomaszewicz 0, Julia Jeziorna.
