AS the battle for supremacy opened last night in the National ‘Guinness Greatest of the Streets’ championship, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste firmly believes that Guyana will take the title this year.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport yesterday, Baptiste said in the inaugural competition in Guyana last year while Guyana finished second, many viewed the team as being the best team in the competition.
The team, Back Circle was defeated by St Lucia in the final and he noted that with the second staging set for St Vincent and the Grenadines, he is confident that whichever team is selected to represent Guyana that team will do very well.
“I was privileged to watch the entire competition last year and I saw the calibre and quality of several of the players and, knowing the level of players that we have this year, I do not see any reason why we (Guyana) cannot bring home the trophy,” he said.
The national playoffs will be held over a three-day period from last night at the Demerara Park (Banks DIH Parking Lot) on the East Bank Public Road.
Baptiste said that whichever team is selected to represent Guyana this year will be better prepared noting that this is the second year that Guyana will be competing and the zeal and passion of players are more intense.
He said that the eight teams competing for supremacy have all lifted their game stressing that while he feels that they may not be major upsets he believes that any of the eight teams can win.
Baptiste said he is satisfied and pleased to see that all the teams competing are very excited and eager to win the championship noting that the competition will continue to be fierce and very competitive.
He pointed out that despite this being Bartica’s first year in the competition, their representatives are very strong and eagerly look forward to seeing how they perform.
He believes the competition will be very intense between the two Georgetown teams noting that Leopold Street beat Back Circle this year and all eyes are upon both teams to see if either will be representing Guyana.
“I do not think that there would be any upsets but I believe the fight will be between Back Circle who represented Guyana last year and Leopold Street who beat Back Circle this year. Plaisance are a very strong team and they too can also spring a surprise,” Lee pointed out.
The eight teams are: Silver Bullets and Silent Assassins of Linden, Leopold Street and Back Circle of Georgetown, Plaisance and Victoria Church Yard from East Coast Demerara and Millennium and Hard Core of Bartica.
Action continues tonight with third round matches in which Silver Bullets will oppose Victoria Church Yard, Silent Assassins face Millennium, Leopold Street battle Hard Core and Back Circle play Plaisance.
Meanwhile, the semi-finals and final will be played on Monday evening, where the winners will receive $400 000, runners-up $250 000, third-placers $150 000 and fourth-placers $75 000. The winning team will also earn the right to represent Guyana at the second annual Guinness Street Challenge scheduled for June 21-23 in St Vincent and the Grenadines.