RETRIEVE Raiders overpowered Victory Valley Royals Jets, handing them their second loss, and keeping their unblemished record intact with their third win. Meanwhile Amelia’s Ward Jets kept their hopes alive by eliminating Block 22 Flames out of contention when the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s organised Malta Supreme Christmas Open basketball championship continued on Thursday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.The Raiders, with the experienced former national Abdulla Hamid at the helm, will tonight go for their fourth win when they face the Allister Webster-led Jets at 21.00hrs. Preceding that feature at 19.00hrs, the other unbeaten side Half Mile Bulls, led by young national players Dennis Niles, Michael Turner and Terron Welch, Half Mile Bulls will face Bankers Trust Falcons who, after four previous defeats, will certainly not advance to the semifinals but would have to turn up, failing which sanctions will be instituted.
The Royals were able to tie their tense game 45-45 against the Raiders where tempers flared in this ‘dog-fight‘ encounter, but Raiders pulled through under testing circumstances 49-46.
In that win Derwin Robertson had a game-high 25 points leading their unbeaten run with national player Keon Cameron getting 14 and Deul Garner 10.
For the Royals Alwyn Rodney had another good game offensively with 15 points, while current national small forward Harold Adams (their best player), was consistent with 13 points and Nevin Grenville added 12 in their losing cause.
In the other game Thursday, Jets trounced past Flames 60-28 as Joel Webster and Akini Wilson both got 11 points and Chris Gill 10 for the winners, while Rawle Williams scored eight and Keith Sullivan seven for the Flames.
The previous night the Royals had romped past Block 22 Flames with a resounding 53-37 when Rodney top-scored 16 and Adams contributed 14 with Nevin Glen 11.
Rawle Williams was the best shoot for the Flames with eight points. The Falcons had failed to show up for this game on Wednesday night which gave the Jets a walkover victory.
The battle therefore this evening will determine which four teams will advance to the semifinals, as the Bulls, led by national shooting guard Terron Welch and Raiders seek to top the points standings after being unbeaten. The clash between these two sides is set for next Wednesday.
However, they must surpass their opponents tonight before that final play-off game to end this preliminary round.

By Joe Chapman