Let the battle begin!
SOME of Guyana’s top basketball players will converge at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from this evening as the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) bounces off its Mackeson national Super Wards Championships with two anticipated exciting matches. Over $1M in cash and prizes are up for grabs in the tournament that will feature ten wards from two counties – Demerara and Berbice – and which is being called the saviour for the game; the biggest tournament that has even been held in Guyana to date.
Tonight, a double-header marks the opening of the competition, with game one seeing Albouystown/Charlestown taking on the boys from the East Bank of Demerara and North Ruimveldt battling with East Coast.
All the teams rate their chances as high going into tonight’s clash but of the four, all eyes would be on last year’s GABA Inter-Ward winners and runners-up North Ruimveldt and Albouystown/Charlestown.
Last year North Georgetown, led by their star players Darcel Harris and Andrew Ifill, electrified Guyana’s premier indoor venue with their outstanding basketball which led them to become $500 000 richer at the end; but it was Albouystown’s courage and determination that won the hearts of many who crammed into the venue on a nightly basis.
This time around it’s an entire different story since Harris told Chronicle Sport yesterday that they are not taking any team for granted this time around.
Harris’ line-up is not much different from that of last year; his other back-court comprises of Ryan Stephney, Stephan ‘Penny’ Henry, Yusuf Edghill and Kamitson Cameron.
North’s front court casts the ever-hustling Damion Liverpool, Seriah Clark, Rudy James and Joel Ifill. Asked about the inclusion of Ifill (Andrew) in the line-up this year, Harris said, “We are awaiting some confirmation, but everything is good”.
The point guard, who wows many with his on-point long range shots and no-look passes, added that he is happy this year teams from outside of Georgetown can participate which will add more excitement to the tournament because it means the best players are on hand.
“We not taking any team for granted because everyone comes out looking to win, not one ever plays to lose, so we (are) taking one game at a time and I think we have what it takes to win this.
“Being the champions from last year’s inter-ward tournament, it adds some pressure on us to deliver because you know we have a lot of fans as well and they all come to see us win, so, we (are) going out to take it a game at a time,” said Harris.
Harris who also acts as the coach of the side said, “Every team has a chance because you see, people using the three guest player rule fully so, they are bringing in good players, so I think it will be a good tournament.”
North’s opposition, East Coast, believe that their composed side also have what it takes to do well in the tournament. Stefan Gillis, one of the game’s deadliest shooters in Guyana said they are coming out to play hard from jump ball and also looking to end with a ‘W’.
Gillis’ teammates include power forward Ryan ‘Kobron’ Gullen, junior national point guard Richard Mohandatt, point guard Hugh Arthur, centre Jermaine Hamilton and Junior Grant.
“I think in this tournament, everyone has a chance of winning it because it has the best players, so we believe we can win. We have never really but we can pull it off,” Gillis pointed out.
All eyes will be turning when Albouystown/Charlestown take the court tonight with their monstrous line-up. “We made sure we used the guest player ruling to the fullest,” explained team captain Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts when speaking to this newspaper yesterday.
Added for the first time to the roster of the always crowd-favourite ward is Guyana’s leading junior player and national youth captain, Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai and his Amelia’s Ward Jets team mate and national point guard, Kevin ‘2 Feet’ Joseph along with Kerwin Blades.
According to Roberts who is known as one of Guyana’s top players for his superman-like approach to the game and tenacious style of play, the team now has at least two players to fill every position.
“You see, now we have replacements in the various positions, because that’s what was missing, before we had Bellamy (Alwin) playing the three position and we have Kanhai who everyone knows can play almost every position on the court and also can put up big numbers.
“But the difference in the team is the inclusion of ‘2 Feet’ (Joseph) because we never had an experienced point guard who can shoot on the side before so he will help out ‘Kobe’ (Fortune) and Trevor (McLeod)”
Charlestown/Albouystown line-up will see the likes of Roberts, Kanhai, Joseph, Blades, Trevor McLeod, Rodwell ‘Kobe’ Fortune, Alwin Bellamy, Niko Fraser, Collis Pluck, Kurt Kristine, Hollingsworth Casey and Travis ‘Cook-Up’ Foster.
“We have been finishing in the top three for the last five years and it’s about time we win this and trust me this team has all it takes to do so.
“We not looking to play down other teams because we all know that Central Mackenzie with Steve Neils and Marvin Hartman and them, then you have North who everyone knows is always a contender and Werk-en-Rust, but I think we will take this one, it wouldn’t be easy, but I think we can.” Roberts said with profoundness.
The winner for the tournament this year will carry away $500 000, second place $250 000, third $150 000 and fourth place $75 000. Special prizes will also be given to the most valuable player (MVP), most defensive player, the player with the most assists and the player who hauls in the most rebounds.