It’s early Saturday morning and a 9am kick-off which can only mean ONE thing – it’s time for the Southerners South East Asian Netball Invitational 2013!
The tournament took place at NIST International School and with the recent heat-wave to hit Bangkok, the ladies were all quite relieved to be playing in the comfort of air-conditioned indoor courts! With 13 teams participating from all corners of Southeast Asia – Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam & of course Bangkok – it was time to pause on the banter about massages, manicures and shopping – and seriously prepare for a full day of netball.
Team tactics were whispered, kits were put on, socks pulled up and it was time for some serious action to get the day started!
Nothing was taken for granted as all first round teams hit the court determined to get their first win under their belt – some successful and others determined to improve in their second game!
Both Southerners Black & Southerners White fought hard on court – both teams were up against some pretty tough competition and fast play so it was certainly necessary to consider thought out tactics and strategies to get through each of the 20minute games.
Off court the constant chatter by all was directed at this years ‘level of play’ as well as the consistency and high standard of defenders that every team seemed to benefit from.
Having played all our round robin games Southerners Black were unfortunately ‘pipped to the post’ by Saigon Shooters and a 1 point difference knocked us out of the quarter-finals to place 5th overall. Southerners White playing as a strong team unit, working hard and fighting for their 10th position.
All teams showed great sportsmanship on and off the court, with Saigon Shooters taking home the award for the Southerners Invitational Sportsmanship Team for 2013.
Congratulations to Singapore Bedok Thunder who can be proud of their winning performance and taking home the trophy!
If a day of netball wasn’t quite enough to get everyone excited about the tournament weekend – then the after-party most definitely was with 130 netballers – plus all of our fabulous Southerners ‘supporters’ – heading on down to No Idea Café & Gastropub for what turned out to be a very entertaining and ‘FLURO’ evening!
The theme for the evening saw all teams dressed in bright colourful fluro gears – from the daring fluro ‘KOK t-shirt wearers to the bright ballerina tutus & leg warmers – the night was a great hit!
The DJ kept everyone entertained and shaking the dance floor (literally!) till early hours, the drinks kept being poured, the lads were amazed to see so many lovely bright coloured ladies in one confined space, the fluro theme was a hit and everyone is counting down until this time next year!!
Until May 2014 ….
Dana Piggott
