OUTSIDERS Kwakwani and second-ranked defending champions Half Mile Bulls are seeking wins tonight in the 3rd Rock Entertainment Open basketball championship when they face separate opponents, Bankers Trust Falcons and Block 22 Flames respectively, at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.Unseeded Kwakwani created quite a stir last Saturday when they beat fourth-ranked Amelia’s Ward Jets in their first group game. They can formalise a semi-final berth against top-ranked Retrieve Raiders set for tomorrow night at the same venue, once they win against the six-ranked Falcons.
Bankers Trust Falcons will be the team they have to beat when they face them at 19:00hrs.
They have three players who were outstanding in that win against the Jets with Dominique Douglas, a former junior national guard with 21 points, Leonard Primo and Evans Johnson with 16 points as the Jets looked jaded. Only Orrin Rose played well for 19 points.
The Falcons were then beaten by the Jets and the fourth-ranked club’s chances therefore rest with an unlikely win over the Kwakwani side.
The Bulls, on the other hand, are favoured to get past Block 22 Flames after they lost to Victory Valley Royals and could reach the semi-finals where they would face the third-seeded Royals with a win tonight.
A loss by the Bulls tonight would make room for the Flames to play the semi-final against the Royals.
The Bulls have a strong lineup and should get past the Flames, but the out-of-form Terron Welch, who donned national duties recently, must come good for them to have any chance of getting past the Royals.
Welch was held to just four points in their loss to the Royals but the Bulls have been a quality team who boast players of the calibre of Michael Turner, who was absent, and point-guard Keifer Tappin among others and power forward Travin Dryden once he is available.
The semi-finals are set for tomorrow night with the Royals and Raiders seeking a berth in the final against their opponents who play tonight – knowing the complex situation they are facing.