Second round action in the Pioneer Construction-sponsored Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) first division league is set to resume today with a double header at the McKenzie Sports Club hard court.
The opening game at 6:30 pm will bring together Amelia’s Ward New Ballers and Glands Trucking Service (GTS) Bulls while in game two, the Wismar Pistons will match skills with Patriots.
In the curtain raiser, the Bulls who are playing their first game in the second round, will be looking to better their recent performances in the league since they sit last on eight points after first round action as compared to their opponents with ten points.
They are expected to rely on their captain Terence James and the crafty Kurlieghly Austin. The Ballers on the other hand do not have a big name player on their side, but are known for their collective effort on the court.
The game will be an interesting match-up off the court as well since both teams are blessed with coaches who are really animated with their tactics.
Floyd Martindale (Ballers) and Claude Williams (Bulls) are always vociferous at the sidelines and the way they react is credited with drawing fans in Linden to their games.
The second game is expected to be a must-see as well since the Wismar Pistons who have only lost one game in the tournament and are playing their first game in round two will be seeking to maintain their good form but coming up against the Patriots, it will not be an easy task.
Patriots are a breakaway team made up of players from various clubs in Linden but they are yet to find some form and at present are on ten points in the league. Already tasting defeat against the Pistons in the first round, the Patriots will now have an idea as to how to stop coach Raphael Damon’s squad.
National power forward Alwyn Wilson and Neil Marks are expected to man the front court for the Patriots while the speedy Julius Gardener will take charge of the back court.
But Trevor Profit, Nevin Grenville and Quincy Jones who are known as the ‘Pistons Big Three’ have earned that reputation by leading the team, scoring most of the points, taking most of the rebounds and they are also the players who Damon rely heavily on to bring the team home.
Meanwhile, the Amelia’s Ward Jets and Victory Valley Royals are now tied atop the points table with 14 points. Those two teams have improved considerably but the Royals have been the more successful of the two.
The Victory Valley-based team who finished second in the Next Level Entertainment (NLE) nationwide basketball tournament has found a new weapon in Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts and if he continues his splendid form, the title race will be tight.
