Finals look promising for Rebels

 THE City Pharmacy Rebels continue to show promising signs for the premiership title after stinging defending champions Esco Telstars 51-47 in the Port Moresby Netball premier competition.

Rebels proved too strong for Telstars when they stunned spectators with their four-point victory at the Rita Flynn Netball Courts on Saturday.

Raukele and Veupunama remain at the bottom of the ladder while Snax Mermaids, Digicel Sparrows, Rebels, Monier Paramana and Telstars are all in content for the playoffs. 

The nerve-wrecking game saw Telstars start strongly with the return of regular players in the likes of classy midcourter Emily Maha and goal defenders Julienne Diro and former Pepe Raka Nope.

However, Rebels kept their cool with experienced campaigners Lua Rikis, Winnie Mavara and Marinama Maha combining well with youngsters Daisy Ole, Caroline Pirika and Samina Logona to out play Telstars.

Rebels led all quarters taking a 14-8 lead in the first, 25-19 at half time, 41-31 in the third quarter and eventually closing at 51-47. 

Telstars l shooters Gamini Koroka and Albertine Ehari lifted their scoring in the last quarter out-scoring Rebels 17-10 but it was too little, too late.

The Rebels cause was helped by some crucial Telstar errors in the midcourt with Maha and Rikis making the most of their opportunities.

In the other matches, Mermaids beat Veupunama 52-44, Paramana beat Aroma Coast 39-27 and Sparrows thrashed Raukele 83-20.