OXFORD CITY PHOENIX GO DOWN FIGHTING 


Oxford City Phoenix turned up in numbers on Sunday 1st May to face Milton Keynes.
During the regular season the team had split results so, all was to be played for.  Coach Cricelli asked the team to be at Oxford Brookes for 11.45am.  All ready took the court after having a pre-game meeting and started their warm up.
12.15pm came, and there was no Milton Keynes, 12.45pm and still to MK, 1.15pm and no MK ... the A34, which is the main route linking both cities had been closed due to a gas leak and MK was stuck in it.  
  
Finally, the game started and  it did not disappoint those hard nose fans, every point was fought for, every possession was treasured, every step on the court had to be earned.  It was a very low scoring first half with Phoenix struggling to make long range shots and of course without Juliet Parisi and Suzie Moxie there everything was just a little harder.  The break came and score was tied.

The Second half was a totally different story with MK stepping up defensively and offensively dominating Phoenix most of the time at both ends of the court.  It was, however, impressive to see Phoenix's young PG Marian taking over the game in the last 5 minutes or so, proving once again that it is not just about age or strength, but skills that really count when the chips are down and winner is about to take it all.

We are all extremely proud of PHOENIX and their amazing effort on the day.

"It is very hard to have a more than long warm up, when your mind and body are set for a particular time and there's a delay that goes over an hour, psychologically and physically it is a nightmare.  Body and mind warm up and sharpen all senses, then after a while a lull creeps in, followed by tiredness and lack of concentration.  That is not to say that this is why Phoenix lost, but it sure affected them in the second half."  Coach Marulanda.