AFTER winning last week’s opening matches Retrieve Raiders and Half Mile Bulls are to meet tonight when one team will lose their unbeaten record. Last weekend’s losers Victory Valley Royals and Block 22 Flames will be going into tonight’s encounter hoping to emerge with a win and keep their hopes alive of advancing to the last four in this inaugural BOSAI Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc. Open Challenge basketball championship at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

The first game of the double-header feature starts at 19.00hrs when Royals, ranked third in this championship, face the seventh-ranked Block 22 Flames in the first game.
The Royals are looking to improve on their last showing after being soundly thrashed by Retrieve Raiders 76-28 in a disappointing performance against the sixth-ranked Raiders.
They hope to have their top players in their lineup which includes youth national Chris Williams as their spearhead, Anthony Morris, following his sterling performance and who  led them with 12 points against the Raiders, the promising youth national Marlon Pollydore who gave support with 11 and Alwyn Rodney who added nine in that losing effort.
They are cognisant of the fact that their veteran player Julius Carter must  add his bit if they are to win this game and the young Theodore Tappin will also need to step up his game to ensure the Royals come away with victory tonight.
They face Block 22 Flames, the seventh seed before the tournament was trimmed to six teams, after fourth-ranked Wismar Pistons were withdrawn for missing the march past, and will need to improve their game against this Royals side.
Knowing this they have recruited three more players to their roster who will give support to the known players like Stephan Arthur, Aubrey Johnson and Patrick Clarke.
The second game tonight should be of great interest as both teams are looking to win to keep their unbeaten record intact
This championship will continue tomorrow  with another double-header at the same venue. In the first game Raiders will return against the Flames at 18:30hrs and the Kings will look to redeem themselves when they meet second seeded Amelia’s Ward Jets at 20:30hrs.