Not even Storm Bert could halt Force’s progress to Cardiff. While Bert managed to delay the team’s travel plans by two hours, it didn’t deter Coach Daniel and Coach Jessie from executing their game strategy. Despite being depleted due to player availability caused by work and family commitments, a strong alliance of the Force took to the court.

Lukas York set the tone for the game within the first five seconds. Kevin Lomboto won the opening tip, feeding York, who delivered an emphatic dunk to start the scoring. You can watch this incredible dunk here on Facebook. On the defensive end, York followed up with a block on Cardiff’s opening shot. Force dominated the first quarter on both ends of the court, showcasing excellent ball movement and relentless attacks on the Cardiff basket. Their defensive effort was particularly remarkable, holding Cardiff to just seven points in the entire first quarter—a foundation for the game’s momentum.

However, Cardiff wasn’t ready to concede. In the second quarter, the Archers launched a long-range assault, hitting shots from a distance to tally an additional 31 points. Force’s offensive output slowed, adding just 17 points in the period. With the halftime score at 47-38 in Force’s favour, Coach Daniel rallied his young stars for the second half.

The third and fourth quarters demonstrated Force’s all-around team performance, with contributions from every player. Kevin Lomboto dominated under the basket, Lukas York orchestrated plays, and Titas Zydelis and Jonny Phillipson locked down Cardiff’s guards. Ollie Blake, starting his birthday celebrations early, delivered precise assists to his teammates. Oleh Drahanchuk and Jonny Phillipson hit threes with precision, reminiscent of bullseyes on womp rats. Simon, Israel, and Victor elevated the energy above the rim, blocking shots and throwing down dunks.

This continued intensity overwhelmed Cardiff’s defence. Force racked up an additional 49 points in the second half while holding Cardiff to just 21, closing the game with an impressive 96-59 victory. The team then enjoyed a trouble-free return to the south coast.

A special mention goes to the travelling Force supporters, who not only made the trip to Wales but also tried to convert Cardiff fans into Force fans—even if just for the day. There is definitely a New Hope for this Force team this season.

Tickets for the next home game this Saturday are now on sale! Don’t miss the action—get yours here on Eventbrite.

Report written by Andy Rowlands

Portsmouth Force Basketball Club

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