… Pit Bulls, Jets, Royals, Unknowns, Pacesetters A, Above the Rim, Full Clip and King Street Ballers are the last eight teams remaining
HUNDREDS throng the Mackeson Sports Club Hard Court in Linden last Saturday night to witness 16 of the country’s best 3-on-3 basketball teams all duel one other in what turned out to be the most exciting night so far in the inaugural Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 tournament. It was the Super-16 stage of the tournament which offers the winner $1M, playing in the win or go home format for the first time of the competition and at the end of the night, the rightful eight teams remained to battle next Saturday at the tarmac of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall for the grand finale.
Pit Bulls, Jets, Royals, Unknowns, Pacesetters A, Above the Rim, Full Clip and King Street Ballers are the eight teams that have advanced.
In the opening game of the night, Full Clip sent Kester Gomes and his Knights team packing, beating them 15-13 and that game set the tone of the evening as the other players looked on with amazement and a sense of nervousness filled the air.
Assassins were the first and only Linden team to be booted from the tournament when they lost to King Street Ballers by one point (14–13) in game that they only have themselves to blame.
Gladiators from Bartica had a lot to say about being able to compete with the players and teams from around Guyana but they were humbled and sent back to reality and home by Above the Rim who upstaged them, 23-10.
Orin Rose and Unknowns defeated Moses Pacesetters 15–9 as they took advantage of home court and were cheered on by the very enthused crowd that filled the newly refurbished venue.
The Victory Valley Royals team of Chris Williams, Harold Adams, Orlan Glasgow and Marlon Pollydore was the most favoured Linden team in the Super-16 round, given the fact that they are not only the Linden Zone Champions but also they have done so in the most dramatic fashion.
Only having lost one game so far in the entire 3-on-3 tournament, the Royals disposed of Slash of Georgetown 16-14 in a game that had the spectators on their feet for the entire second half due to the highly competitive nature of the contest between the two sides.
The game of the night was that of Cronics of Georgetown versus Jets of Linden with the home side winning 10-7 after being reduced to two men halfway through the second half.
Kevin Joseph, Shane Webster and Leonard Caleb were the three players that turned up for the Jets with their fourth player Lawrence De Costa missing the game due to work commitment.
Ryan ‘Show Time’ Melville, using his witty crossovers and good ball-handling skills, easily made his way into the paint and went hard to Webster causing the Jets big man to be fouled out with three minutes remaining in the game and his side down 6-7.
But Joseph using his experience coupled with some great finishes and moves by Caleb was enough to not only get them back into the game, but also placed them in the final eight, much to the delight of the massive crowd.
Pacesetters A, with the likes of Travis Burnett, Stefan Gillis, Royston Siland and Naylon Loncke, are said to be one of the strongest teams in the entire tournament and they exemplified those claims with their thrashing of Berbice’s Team Demolition 21-7.
Ryan Guillen, Shelroy Thomas and Rudy James are the three powerhouses of Pit Bulls and led their team attack against Den Amstel, beating them 18-7.
Ansa McAl, in showing gratitude to the fans for their support so far, afforded them the opportunity of winning cash and free Mackeson.
They had 30 seconds to shoot from eight marked spots on the court, mainly in the key area and on every shot scored, they got two free Mackeson stout along with free Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 T-shirts.
For the women, the organisers added something special, giving them $500 for every basket along with two free Mackeson and it was hinted that on Saturday’s finals in Georgetown, fans would be just as handsomely rewarded for their support.
Exciting plays in Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 basketball
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