VV Royals douse Flames 62-53
Champions Victory Valley Royals celebrate after winning the LABA Nigel Hinds League in Linden
Champions Victory Valley Royals celebrate after winning the LABA Nigel Hinds League in Linden

LABA/Nigel Hinds Senior League final

LED by the cool-headed national guard Yannick with a game-high 21 points, National Club Champions Victory Valley Royals coasted to a 62-53 triumph over Block 22 Flames last Sunday night to win the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Nigel Hinds Senior League title.

The final was set for Saturday but overnight rains pushed the event to the Sunday and the Royals, despite the absence of veterans Harold Adams and Orlando Glasgow, proved too strong for the Flames.

The top-ranked Royals stamped their authority early with a 14-8 lead when the first quarter ended.

Led by Tappin, his brother Kobe who gave admirable support with 16 points and the steady input from Vibert Benjamin in the middle, the Royals would take a 36-18 lead, outscoring their opponents, 22-10, to end the first half in the driving seat.

The Royals would continue their control of the proceedings in the third quarter as they led 50-33.

A final run by the Flames, where they held sway in the final stanza by a 22-12 run, could not prevent the Royals taking honours, 62-53.

By virtue of the win, the Royals earned themselves $400,000.

 

The Most Valuable Player cash incentive of $40,000, compliments of the Brusches Basketball Foundation, was won by Yannick Tappin.

The Flames valiant attempt hinged on the efforts of Jonathan Clark with 21 points, Shemar Savoury with 16 and Shawn Cameron added eight.

The Flames collected $200,000 for placing second.

Amelia’s Ward Jets defeated Central Mackenzie Kings, 68-52, for third place and walked away with $100,000.

Kings took home $50,000 for fourth position, all compliments of Nigel Hinds, whose total sponsorship was $850,000 for this year’s LABA Senior League Championship in Linden.

President of the LABA Ms Dawn McCammon-Barker commented at the presentation, saying, “Congratulations to all the trans which participated in this year’s league. It was a challenging year but we got through with the grace of God.”

She added “This tournament was sponsored by Nigel Hinds our sponsor from last year, who came back on board to give us prize monies to the sum of $750,000. We asked for $200,000 and he doubled it to $400,000 for the first prize.”

However, the LABA top official told the crowd gathered for the presentation that, “We have to pull up our socks where discipline is concerned.”

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