By Rawle Toney
The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) first division Basketball League got started on Sunday at the Burnham Basketball Court with wins for the Courts Pacesetters and Dyna’s Ravens.
Both the Pacesetters and Ravens are considered two of the better teams on show in the GABA league and they made that point clear after Sunday’s performances.
- Ryan Gullen of Ravens Basketball Club goes up strong to the basket during his team’s victory over the nets in the GABA first division league on Sunday at the Burnham Basketball Court.
Playing in the opening game of the double header, the Courts Pacesetters brushed aside Bounty Colts 67-52 in a game that in the initial stages, seemed as if it could have gone either way.
But, thanks to some tactical coaching from national coach Bobby Cadogan, the Pacesetters rallied on for the win.
For the victors, national power forward Royston Siland top scored with 14 points while Kwesi Roberts had 13.
Gavin Beeram and Desmond Chin both shot 11 for the Colts.
Meanwhile, the Ravens stamped there authority beating the Nets 81-65 in a game that was very physical from start to end, but it was the Ravens who would rough it out to walk away as winners.
Damian Liverpool and Ryan Gullen scored 14 and 13 points respectively.
Pelham Doris led all scorers with 21 points while his team-mate Drumson Mc Cullay had 20 points.
The winners of the GABA First Division League will take home $100,000 while the second place team will earn $60,000 and third place team $40,000. Along with the cash incentives
individual prizes will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player of the tournament (MVP), best defensive player, the player who amasses the most points, most steals, assists and block shots in the tournament.
According to the GABA, matches will be played under floodlights at the venue which the association has been able to acquire through public and basketball-oriented individuals but the lights will be closely monitored to avoid vandalism.
The association said that if any games are washed out because of rain, it will be rescheduled but the idea of returning indoors was not out of the question.
However, since the newly-formed body has no finance, having all the matches played outdoors is a priority at the moment.
Matches will continue this weekend and will be played concurrently with the Lens Craft third Division league.
