Banijans reach top gear in 24-5 pummeling QF victory to reach WLC Semifinals
KALEDI, BET NJAZA- Ever since Banija's impressive 21-14 victory on Matchday 2 over Sarzonia, the team has been kind of muddling along- we've won every game since then, yes, but none of which have been won in particularly impressive fashion. The team showed grit, yes- they played other high-quality opponents, like TJUN-ia, and won those close games. They won close games against opponents that should have been overmatched- like Tero al Disco. Doing exactly what they needed to do, to win most of those games comfortably- although, not at the level many Banijan fans expect them to win at. Banijans consider ourselves to be in that upper echelon, alongside the Sarzonias and Abanhflefts of the world. Whether we actually belong there, with only one title on our 19th try, and a 1-5 all-time record in WLC FInals? Well, that's a question that's best answered by others- if I said my honest answer, Banijan fans would tar and feather my house.
Expectations are often much more important than reality in many spheres of life- especially sport. The expectation for Banija in the WLC has pretty much always been win a world title- especially in the modern era. Ever since WLC 34 when we returned to the Final, we've made deep runs in every single tournament since- over the prior 10 tournaments to this one, we have one world championship, four second place finishes, and a trio of third place finishes. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride- until WLC 41, that is. While we finally won that title, Banijan fans haven't quite shaken off that mentality- that they are almost good enough to be crowned the best team in the world, but they are just shy. It has greatly influenced Banijan lax fandom- there's always hope, but it's tinged with anxiety. And any foreseen flaws can cause panic. That Quebec loss? It wasn't treated as a mulligan. Fortunately they had a convincing win over the Stars one MD later- if they had lost to Sarzonia as well, the fans would be in full on panic mode.
But today, in the Quarterfinal, the Lions decided it was no longer time for muddling along- they meant business, and in this knockout match, they put on a show. Their best match of the tournament, by far, as they crushed the newcomers, by a score of 24-5. While the Banijans were indeed serious favorites, that kind of scoreline was a shock. Hell, Panay Islands just won their final group stage match, in what was a 'win and you're in' match, by a score of 27-1, showcasing their ability to run up the score. But the Banijans showed that, at least in this cycle, we are at the top level. Everything went right for this team. Five different players recorded hat tricks during this match. Janice Basiiso was the leading goalscorer for the NT, with 8 goals of her own. It was a game that got out of hand quite quickly, and the Banijans kept their foot on the gas- not only getting an emphatic win here in the KO stages, but sending a message to everyone else, particularly the other three semifinalists- that not only do we want glory, but we are good enough to get it.
Next up will be a match against the LIttle War Jags of TJUN-ia, a team we faced off against in group play. We won an important group stage match by a score of 8-5. But TJUN-ia had a pretty impressive win of their own in the Ro16, downing Abanhfleft, a historical power of this sport, to reach this stage. "They've never won this tournament- they will be amped, they will be ready." Banija's HC said. "We all know what's at stake- a place in the Final is not one to be taken for granted. WE learned a lot in our group stage encounter, but so did they. Our fans will pack the PetroBan, but I expect the traveling support to be good as well. It lines up for an all-time classic."
Banijan NT attacker Abihail Apiyo, the day before the TJUN-ia semifinal
Abihail Apiyo was the oldest player on the roster here at WLC 44 for the Banijans, clocking in at age 35. More importantly, she was the team's most experienced player- because, of course, she was the only player remaining from Banija's WLC 41 winning team. A (demonstration) Olympic champion, a WLC champion- and in her final tournament, coming off the bench to try and lead the team to their second world title. A legend in her own right in a country full of them, she desperately wanted to be part of a second title-winning squad for the Banijans. Her experience meant that she was a crucial part of the roster in more ways than one. Obviously, a saavy veteran coming off the bench- if the Banijans needed a goal, or a change of pace, she would give it to them. Her ability to slow the game down and read it how she wanted to was legendary.
On the other hand, she was also an important locker room presence. She understood the fine margins that championships were decided on- while Banija was 1-5 all-time in WLC Finals, there was a reason she was part of the 1. The focus required, the professionalism, day in and day out- you needed a relentless focus to win a world title in any sport. You needed more than that, of course. A combination of focus, of team unity, striving for perfection, and the ability to adjust on the fly when things start to go wrong. And when Banija lost the opener to Quebec, well- many feared that everything was going off the rails. She remembered the newspaper headlines after that one. She closed her social media acocunts for the entirety of the few days between the first and second match.
Where did Banija turn to? They turned to Apiyo- and she delivered. She was able to get the team settled down, and focused. When they watched film against Quebec, there was no panic- there was drive, there was confidence. If the team started to get the feeling that everything was over after one match, like the fans did, then they'd never have a chance- it would be Banija's worst showing at a WLC since WLC 29, when we didn't even get out of the group on home soil. The loss happens- it was shocking, it was shitty, but they moved on- and with a great crowd to back them, a win over Sarzonia got everything back on track. And this emphatic QF win- well, it was hard to say bad things about your team when you won by 19 goals in a Quarterfinal.
Now, the challenge was different- instead of keeping the confidence up, she had to help them keep their focus. It was a tremendous win, and people were talking about Banija in the Final, especially considering the quality of a matchup that would happen against either Sarzonia or Baker Park. But looking past quality teams, like TJUN-ia, was how Banija would rack up yet another third place finish at this tournament. So when she stood up to speak, her message rang loud and clear.
"Guys, we have a tremendous opportunity in tomorrow's semifinal, against TJUN-ia." She told the room. Every eye was on her. "The Little War Jags are a hell of an opponent- we know, more than anybody, how difficult it is to beat Abanhfleft in this tournament. It took us how many tries to do so? And TJUN-ia has done so- slain one half of the double dragon that dominates this sport. So while we have confidence, they have every right to have just as much confidence as we have- or frankly, more. The PetroBan is gonna be rocking- but we've got to be ready. We all saw how Shonwahnonkon Sundown shredded us- if he had gotten any help at all on offense, they probably beat us last time. Their team is going to have a lot of confidence and momentum- Sundown won't be by himself again.
This is our tournament, this is our time. We do what we need to do, we execute- and we will reach this Final."
