AFTER safely maneuvering through the preliminary rounds, the number one and two ranked clubs in the Victory Valley Royals and Half Mile Bulls will be action in the semifinals of the Malta Supreme ‘March Madness’ basketball tournament.

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association sanctioned tournament is being played at the Mackenzie Sports Club hardcourt.

The first game will pit second-ranked Half Mile Bulls, seeking to reach the final against Retrieve Raiders who seem to be going through a transition.

The Bulls, as always, will be led byTerron Welch, a streak shooter who can also penetrate inside and create havoc for the opponents.

Welch and Travin ‘Babylon’ Dryden provide a combination that can propel this side to victory, with adequate help coming from the experienced Kevin Easton and the young guns in Jamar Bethune and Immanuel Rose.

The Raiders on the other hand, have a new look side and leading them of recent has been Dauwin Lovell while Coel Winter and Derron Montrose have been steadying them inside. They also had help from Sheldron Noel in their last appearance.

Missing of course are their best players over the past decade, in Neil Marks and Dwayne Roberts who have migrated. It will be interesting to seehow they fare in this their first semifinal without these players.

For one, the Royals still have in their line-up a dependable scorer in Harold Adams, but his supporting cast of Chris Williams and Orlando Glasgow were missing in the run-up to this semifinal as youngsters Yannick Tappin and Daniel Lee came through splendidly.

There are others like the experienced Marlon Pollydore and Linnel Warden and Kobe Pappin waiting to showcase their skills for this Royals challenge as well.

Their opponents the Jets should not be a pushover as their middle remains potent where Adrian Webster, and his brothers, Joel and Adrian, are stationed with Donnel Benjamin and in front they have Akini Wilson and the former standout shooter, Orin Rose.