AFTER sending the Amelia’s Jets packing, the question now is: Can the Plaisance Guardians replicate such a performance against the TGH Pacesetters when the two collide in tonight’s final game, as the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) National Club Championship continues at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall? Four games will be played at the premier indoor facility, starting at 16:30hrs with a clash between Colts and Pepsi Sonics followed by the clash of two Linden teams, Kashif and Shanghai Kings and Retrieve Raiders, and the penultimate game between defending champs Dynas Ravens and Victory Valley Royals.

When point guard Nikkoloi Fraser left Colts and went back to his home-based club, many were sceptical about what impact he would have had on the team.
However, coach Junior Hercules seemed to have given the best motivational speech ever written to spark such a phenomenal performance against a team that finished fourth place last year.
A herculean task awaits the emerging Guardians; coming up against a Pacesetter team stacked with players like guard Travis Burnett, centre Royston Siland and sharp shooter Stephon Gillis.
Gillis has been quiet thus far in the competition, but, the Guardians are fully aware that the player touted as the best shooter in the country can at any given moment go on a rampage from ‘down town’.
Many are hoping to see the match-up in the back court between Burnett and Fraser, especially with both players eyeing a spot on the National team this year.
The Colts versus Sonics game is one which puts the latter at a slight disadvantage in the front court since the Bounty-sponsored club are equipped with National centre Shane Webster and Kurt ‘Gipsy’ Elias as his back-up.
However, what the Sonics lack in size, like their name, they make up with speed and agility, especially among their guards.
Retrieve Raiders, the club that finished behind Ravens last year, are expected to defeat the ageing Kashif and Shanghai Kings team, especially after their opening game performance.
Neil Marks, who represented Guyana at the CBC Championship, has carried the Retrieve team with little and some time no support from his teammates, who often shy away when pressure mounts.
But the Kings behind a collective effort from their ‘vets’ Abdulla ‘Zico’ Hamid, Omally Sampson and Marvin Hartman, have shown that they are still a formidable force in the sport.
Meanwhile, after Harold Adams had shown that he can be ‘Mr Dependable’, playing a massive role in the Victory Valley Royals win against Republic Banks Nets, the defending champions Ravens could be in for a long night.
Though Ravens are usually known for getting the upper hand against their Linden rivals, this time around, one can sense that something magical might happen.
Chris Williams and Marlon Pollydore will control the back for the Royals and Ravens will look to Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai, Ryan Gullen, Ryan Stephney and Dominic Vincente.