• ERICK Soko of Green Buffaloes races with the ball as Owami Lumbo of Hurricanes keeps chase during a Under-13 basketball friendly match at Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka. Picture By GWEN CHIPASULA

By SAMUEL LUKHANDA –
UNZA Pacers lay down an early season marker to other title contenders in the Midlands Basketball Association (MBA) league title chase with a perfect two from two matches.
The defending champions saw off second placed Green Buffaloes in what was a marquee fixture of the long weekend.
In the feminine league, UNZA Honeys found their sweet spot while Nishati Shells run riot against LCC Lootresses.
Pacers 73 Buffaloes 67
The streaking Pacers who are perfect from the jump had to respond to early season questions asked by the stumping Buffaloes by edging the pretenders by six points at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC).
There were questions as how Pacers intend to move forward without their retired coach Cuthbert Tembo but Mulenga Mumba and Humphrey Banda picked up where the former left off bagging a morale boosting win against a regional contender.
Buffaloes, who were on second position heading into this weekend games, will have to rebound as it is still early days.
Denvers 60 Suns 63
Nishati Denvers are on two game losing streak after they lost the opening game to Pacers and got torched by Munali Suns only by three points.
The Evelyn Hone students need to learn their lesson sooner than later before they get stuck in the relegation dog fight if they have to continue playing at this level.
Munali, meanwhile, learnt their lesson last season as they escaped by the skin of their teeth to conserve their super league status.
In the other game played at NASDEC, Liland a Heat blew cold as they got beaten by LCC Looters by 12 points margin in a match that ended 55-43.
At Zamsure Sports Complex, Bulldogs won a blowout against Chinzam Dragons 78-33, Heroes Play took down Gallant Knights 70-57, Matero
Magic B beat Buffaloes B 64-56 and Huskies edged out Capital Raiders 40-31.
There was a close escape by Intrepid Bulls who won by a single basket against Junior Hurricanes 48-46.
In the feminine category, defending champions Honeys had no trouble
handing Hotspurs a 48-35 loss at NASDEC. Shells not to outdone by their title rivals ran riot against Lootresses beating them by 10 points. The game ended 59-49.