Players in this year’s inter-ward basketball tournament are going all out to claim the $500,000 first prize and as the tournament progresses, the level of play is getting better as the nights go by.
Charlestown and defending champions North Ruimveldt will clash tonight in game one of their best-of-three semi-finals and the betting pundits would find it difficult to place a bet.
While the North side is more experienced and a bit more rounded with the likes of Andrew ‘Mr. Dunk’ Ifill whose name and game speak for itself and point guard Darcel Harris, who is known for his on-the-button passes and wicked cross overs and who can also be deadly from downtown.
North Ruimveldt’s star studded cast also includes the crafty Ryan Stephaney and national power forward Damien Liverpool as well as their guest player from Linden Quincy Jones.
But although Charlestown does not have all the big name glamour their opponents possess, the few prominent players on their side have so far been the rock of their foundation.
The ability of national power forward Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts needs no introduction as his game speaks loudly night after night.
His support cast features the diminutive Rodwel Fortune and Trevor McLeod along with Alwyn Bellamy.
Meanwhile, the tournament continued Sunday evening with Wortmanville/ Werk-en-Rust embarrassing Alberttown/ Bourda 73-51 to set up a clash with South Ruimveldt who came from behind to beat Kitty/Campbellville 69-56.
Naylon Loncke once again showed his leadership capacity to catapult his side closer to the big money, netting a game high 14 points and taking seven steals.
He was well supported by Royston Siland, 13 points and six rebounds.
For the losers, Jacob Lowe and Yannick Wade netted eight and seven points respectively.
In the second game of the double header, Steve Neils Jr. netted a game high 29 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead South Ruimveldt into the ‘money round’.
After trailing 15-19 in the first quarter and 36-37 at half time, the South Ruimveldt team found a new gear in the third quarter with Neils Jr. and Sherwin ‘Paxon’ Roberts along with veteran center Dane Kendall taking the bull by the horns to regain the lead 55-50 going into the final period.
From then on they never looked back as the fans were kept on their feet for the entire final period as the two sides played one of the best games in the tournament so far.
Roberts ended the game with 16 points and nine rebounds and one blocked shot. The lanky Jason Alonzo had his best night of the competition scoring 11 points, hauling in 20 rebounds, swatting six blocked shots and picking up seven steals, all in a losing cause. Kevin Lawrence also had 13 points and six rebounds for the Campbellville team.
The supporting game for tonight’s semi-final will be between McDoom and Mocha.
