ANOTHER amazing turnout at the newly constructed National Gymnasium basketball court on Princes Street & Mandela Avenue, last Saturday, saw them being rewarded with three exciting matches under lights in which Stabroek Eagles, UG Trojans, and Wortmanville Ravens secured wins.

In the opening game, Stabroek Eagles dominated the Lamaha Park/Springs Pepsi Sonics in their 87-45 win. The Eagles surged ahead in the first quarter, racking up 23 points, while their opponents struggled to reach double digits, managing only four points. This trend continued into the second quarter, with the Eagles adding 20 more points to their total while the Sonics struggled, putting up only 12 points.

The third quarter also favored the Eagles, as they scored 25 points, while the Sonics managed just 11, mirroring their second-quarter performance. The Eagles sealed their victory in the final quarter, scoring 19 points. Micheal Richards top scored for Eagles with a game-high 26 points while Denzel Ross netted 18 points, Kwesi Thompson and Travis Belgrave each netted 15 points, and Sherland Gillis posted up 11.
In game two, the UG Trojans continued their purple patch with 81-31 thumping of Leonora D-Up Rising Stars. They took an early lead in the first quarter, outscoring Rising Stars 22-8. The Trojans maintained their dominance in the second quarter, scoring 16 more points, bringing their total to 38, while the Stars struggled to put the ball in the hoop, managing only 4 points.

Although the Stars made an effort to fight back, the Trojans’ solid defence held them to 8 points in the second quarter, resulting in a total of 20 points at halftime. The Trojans continued their steady performance, concluding the game with 23 more points in the third quarter and securing a victory with a total of 16 points in the final quarter. Sheron Savory scored a game high 30 points for UG Trojans.

In what would be described as a surprising upset, the Ravens defeated the Pacesetters 60-41, handing them their first loss of the tournament. The Pacesetters had a decent start, leading 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. However, Ravens clawed back in the second quarter, scoring 18 points in that period of play, while the Pacesetters were limited to 11 points.

The Ravens continued with their momentum in the second half, scoring 15 more points in the third quarter and 18 points in the final quarter, while keeping the opposition’s attack in check. Ryan Stephney top scored for Ravens with 13 points.

The tournament-winning team will receive a prize of $1 million, along with trophies, while the runners-up will be awarded $500,000 and trophies. This successful tournament was made possible through the sponsorship of the Culture, Youth, and Sport Ministry, G-Boats Guyana, the National Sports Commission, the Guyana Basketball Federation, and the Georgetown Basketball Federation.