THANKS to a heroic performance from national shooting guard Steffon Gillis, defending champions Pacesetters ‘A’ Team will continue to play for the $1M winner-take-all first prize in this year’s Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 Basketball Challenge.

When the action continued at the California Square basketball court in East Ruimveldt last Tuesday night, Pacesetters ‘A’ were staring down the barrel of elimination twice, before Gillis’ shooting prowess brought them back into contention on both occasions.
Facing Republic Bank Nets in the second game of the night, Pacesetters ‘A’ found themselves in an unusual position, down 7-10 with two minutes left in the second half.
Gillis barely had a clear vision at the ring before he released one of his trademark missiles from downtown to push his team within a point (a three-pointer in the 3-on-3 version of basketball accounts for two points according to FIBA rules).
Following a failed conversion by their opponents, Pacesetters retrieved possession and once again, Gillis, with a hand in his face did not let his blocked vision deter him as he let loose another cannon from downtown that gave his team an 11-10 lead, which became the final score.
Pacesetters were forced to play from behind after losing its starting forward, Royston Siland who suffered a gash just under his right eye, forcing the Nets who were the bigger team with Mortimer Williams and Fabian Johnson in their line-up, to take advantage on the boards and in the paint, but they (Nets) could not hang on for the win, as Gillis’ sharp-shooting shocked them.
Then it was South All-Stars who continued the misfortune for Nets with an 8-7 win after a shootout from a 7-7 regulation time finish, after the eventual victors had earlier lost the opening game to Slash 6-7 and with their win against Nets, confirmed Pacesetters ‘A’ and Slash as the top teams in the group.
Even though Siland showed some guts when he returned from taking treatment for his eye injury, Pacesetters ‘A’ were completely outplayed against Slash, losing 10-13 with Slash guards, Jason Squires and Aubrey Younge, manipulating possession to hold on to the ball for prolonged periods of time.
Slash then beat Nets 10-9, scoring their free throws in the shootout after a 9-9 stalemate, to end the group unbeaten.
The Pacesetters ‘A’ versus South All-Stars game was set as a must-win for both teams to decide which of the two teams will join Slash in the National Round-of-16 that bounces off next week and as he did against Nets, it was Gillis who answered the call again and lifted his team into the deciding round.
Trailing 12-13 in the final minute of the usual 15-minute game with two 7½-minute periods, the shooting guard nailed a huge dagger from beyond the arc with 30 seconds remaining to put his team up 14-13, which eventually squeezed out South All-stars from contention.
Meanwhile, the Mackeson Smooth Moves 3-on-3 Basketball Championships continued at the Independence Boulevard Basketball Court in Albouystown last night, when two of the four teams, namely McDoom Kings, Colts, Pitbulls and Eagles, qualified for the Round-of-16 in the Georgetown Zone.