Basket Brawl (also known as Water Polo and Survivor Dodgeball) is a recurring challenge that originated in Survivor: Tocantins, and has since reappeared in Heroes vs. Villains, One World, and Cambodia. It is a Survivor version of basketball, albeit more physical.
Rules[]
Playing in a field of shallow water, three castaways (an equal number of men and women from each tribe) would battle for control over a ball. Once a contestant has acquired the ball, they must throw it into their tribe's respective net, which would score them one point. Every time a point is scored, tribes may swap members in and out of the challenge depending on the stipulation for the upcoming round. The first tribe to score three points would win the challenge.
History[]
United States[]
The Jalapao tribe won this challenge in its debut season, Tocantins, defeating Timbira in a close match by a score of 3-2 to win fishing gear and immunity.
The Heroes tribe won this challenge in Heroes vs. Villains, defeating the Villains tribe in a 3-0 blowout to win reward.
The Salani tribe, recently bolstered in strength by a favorable tribe swap, won this challenge in One World, defeating the Manono tribe 3-1 to win immunity.
The challenge appeared in Cambodia post-merge where the team of Abi-Maria Gomes, Ciera Eastin, Joe Anglim, Spencer Bledsoe, and Tasha Fox won with a score of 3-1 to win reward.
Australia[]
A dodgeball variant of the challenge was introduced in Titans v Rebels. Instead of aiming for a basket, two strikers on each tribe aimed for the other tribe's strikers, each standing on elevated platforms; the first tribe to knock out both of their opponents scores a point, with the first tribe to score three points winning immunity. In the last three rounds of the challenge, the game was played with two balls instead of one. Although the Rebels held a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth round, Rianna Bowley's mistake of hitting for an already eliminated Eden Porter allowed the Titans the opportunity to tie things up. In the final round, the Titans adopted the strategy of hogging both balls to launch coordinated attacks at each of the Rebel strikers. This strategy paid off and allowed the Titans to score their second Immunity Challenge victory.
South Africa[]
In Maldives, the challenge appeared as the third tribal Immunity Challenge. Raituhn suffered from a lack of coordination, especially as a result of Tshepo Maseko's inability to follow instructions. Still, they were able to even the score with Goma 4-4. In the end, Sindi Lukhele scored the game point for Goma, giving the tribe their first immunity win.
In Immunity Island, the challenge appeared as the tribal Immunity Challenge immediately following the tribe switch. The new Vuna utterly defeated the new Zamba tribe, scoring in all three rounds to win immunity.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Tocantins "The Poison Apple Needs to Go" |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Jalapao |
Heroes vs. Villains "I'm Not a Good Villain" |
Tribal Reward | Heroes |
One World "A Bunch of Idiots" |
Tribal Immunity | Salani |
Cambodia "Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil" |
Team Reward | Abi-Maria, Ciera, Joe, Spencer, Tasha |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Australian Survivor (2016) Episode 9 |
Tribal Immunity | Saanapu |
Champions v Contenders (2018) Episode 7 |
Tribal Immunity | Champions (2018) |
Titans v Rebels "B Is for Blindside" |
Tribal Immunity | Titans |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Maldives Episode 3 |
Tribal Immunity | Goma |
Immunity Island "Control the Flow" |
Tribal Immunity | Vuna |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- J.T. Thomas, Stephen Fishbach, and Coach Wade are the only contestants to compete in this challenge twice. J.T. won both times, Stephen won once, while Coach did not win either time.
References[]