After witnessing the Charlestown/Albouystown downing of defending champions North Ruimveldt in game one of their semi-finals on Tuesday, basketball fans are eagerly looking for a similar show tonight when South Ruimveldt and Wortmanville/Werk-en-Rust do battle in game one of their best-of-three semi-finals at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The event is the Hits and Jams and Lenscraft-sponsored Georgetown inter-ward basketball extravaganza which has a first prize of $500,000 and to date is the most lucrative basketball tournament in Guyana. Therefore, the teams have been turning in pulsating performances and the match-up is now down to the final four.
Looking at the two teams prior to their showdown this evening, it would be difficult to judge a winner offhand as their styles differ vastly.
South has national point guard Steve Neils jr and Sherwin Roberts, while Wortmanville has Naylon Loncke and Mark Trotts.
Neils’s ability to shoot over defenders accurately from beyond the arc and also his lethal cross overs and first step can be deadly since he is also one of the most unselfish players in the game at present. This has been proven in the tournament as he punches the lane, drawing the defenders and dishing it out.
Roberts is popular for his sniper-like shooting from down town. This combination has been quite effective so far and once Wortmanville can stop this, fans will have an intriguing game.
Loncke on the other hand plays a vintage style of basketball; he has no fancy dribble, no cross-over but his method of getting by makes up. He is more of a team player and is the leader for his side and orchestrates all their plays. Stopping ‘Loncky’ as he is more popularly known is not going to be easy for the South boys.
Meanwhile in the front court it will be the youthful high flying Royston Siland coming up against the veteran Dane Kendal.
This would be an interesting match-up since Siland relies heavily on his leaping ability to get his way on the boards but Kendal uses his brains and pump fakes which are entertaining as he makes rings around his opponents.
The two sides also have some very good players on their bench as well and since no one wants to lose, a great game can be expected.
