By Joe Chapman
THE supposedly aging Retrieve Raiders ended the Linden Amateur Basketball Association /104.3 Power FM Majority sponsored Mash Open Basketball Championship with an 80-78 win over the Half Mile Bulls in the Finals.Playing like purebred pups, the Raiders banked its first title of the 2016 season with a euphoric win Saturday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
With the win, the Raiders, through most valuable player (MVP) and power forward Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts erased its ultimate stigma of not getting past the Bulls when it mattered most. ‘Brown Sugar’ had support from an experienced cast of national forwards in Neil Marks, Abdulla Hamid and Marvin Hartman along with national guard Keon Cameron.
It was a particularly satisfying win for the Raiders, which was ranked second to the Bulls after losing the 2015 Malta Supreme Christmas Open basketball championship. The earlier loss had raised questions over how the Retrieve side would have stacked up against the youthful and tireless Bulls.
Considering the Bulls boasted senior national players in Terron Welch, Michael Turner and Dennis Niles in back-court and up front had Shane Lewis and Kevin Easton, the Half Mile side was the clear favorite to win, despite the absence of power forward Travin ‘Babylon’ Dryden.
Dryden’s non-showing due to work commitments, proved costly in the end for the Bulls and as such Roberts was able to pound his way inside to not only come away with the MVP but also the Defensive Player Award. He accumulated 24 points, grabbed 15 massive rebounds and blocked three shots and two assists in a superlative performance.
At the end of the first quarter, Marks and Roberts combined well to see the Raiders leading 17-26; as the Bulls’ Welch single-handedly scored 11 of his team’s points. The second quarter, however closer featured no change at the end with the Retrieve side still ahead 40-39 and though the third was competitive in bursts, it still ended 66-58 for the Retrieve side.
The writing was on the wall, but it was misread by those watching on as the Bulls attempted the final push, the Raiders responded with Roberts sinking freebies to send the score to 75-64 in favor of the later.
A late push from Turner coupled with Tappin’s efforts however brought the Bulls within striking distance at 73-75 and the additional support of Niles brought them to within a point of the win, at 77-78 for the Raiders. But when it mattered, the Niles chocked. He missed the crucial free throws down the final stretch and while he did get in a last shot close to the basket, it was too late.
Other Raiders’ scorers included Cameron (16 points, six steals and four assists), Hamid (16 points and five rebounds), Hartman 10 points and four rebounds and Marks nine points and 11 rebounds.
On the opposing end, Welch’s game high 41 points, three assists and two steals coupled with Turner’s 13 points, Tappin’s 11 points and four rebounds and Niles seven points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots summed up the Bulls’ scorecard.
The Victory Valley Royals beat the Amelia’s Ward Jets for third place 62-53 with Trevor Profitt scoring 17 points, Alwyn Rodney 11 points and Harold Adams seven points.
The final was witnessed by President of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation Nigel Hinds, along with LABA President Lawrence Simon and owner of Linden’s 104.3 Power FM Radio Haslyn Graham, all of whom were introduced to the finalists prior to the game.
Other sponsors were Power Lines Auto sales, Trophy Stall, Babaloo’s Car Rental, Johnny Whyte, Mackeson Brand, BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana Inc. and Cloyde Brush.
The teams received their trophies and will later this week collect their cash incentives from Ansa McAl Trading.
Meanwhile, the LABA has called an Emergency General Council for this evening from 18.30hrs at the Mackenzie Sports club pavilion to address some concerns it has ahead of the Road to Mecca three National Club championships which is billed to bounce off on Friday.
A source close to the association said that several queries pertaining to the rules and other matters of this championship remain unknown and the clubs have asked for this meeting to clear up their concerns.