By Joe Chapman
THE Banks Malta Supreme Open Christmas Basketball championship organised by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association bounces off tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court. The red hot Half Mile Bulls will face Block 22 Flames in the opener at 19:00 hrs and the other at 21:00 hrs brings together Retrieve Raiders against Bankers Trust Falcons in the other.
The six clubs contesting this preliminary round are Half Mile Bulls, Retrieve Raiders, Amelia’s Ward Jets, Bankers Trust Falcons, Victory Valley Royals and Block 22 Flames and they are seeking to reach the final four after round robin play which is set for December 28 and the final on January 2, 2016.
The first game will see Half Mile Bulls, led by recent national selectees Terron Welch and Michael Turner, leading the Wismar side with veteran Shane Lewis steadying their challenge while their opponents’ Block 22 Flames are hopeful of causing a surprise as they seek an opening victory.
Their main players are Keith Sullivan, Keion Sullivan, Patrick Clarke, Selwyn Henry and Gavin Clarke.
The second game is between Retrieve Raiders who will see another national selectee in Keiron Cameron included in the side which is spearheaded by former national forward Neil Marks, Dwayne Roberts, Abdulla Hamid, Geoffrey LaRose, Dwight McKinnon, Yannick Primo and Marvin Hartman.
Their lesser known opponents are the Bankers Trust Falcons which will have among their players Dale Sauers, Marlon Persaud, Leonard Caleb, Devon Thompson and Lawrence Simon.
The competition continues on Monday when another double-header is planned when Retrieve Raiders face Block 22 Flames in the first game and Amelia’s Ward Jets take on Victory Valley Royals in the other.