Fireworks are expected tonight in Linden as the Brusche’s Basketball Classic reaches its semi-final stage.
The tournament’s defending champions Courts Pacesetters and their rivals Dyna’s Ravens will square off against each other while national champions Wismar Pistons are down to face the Glands Trucking Service (GTS) Bulls for a spot in the final and to claim the $100,000 first prize.
This is the third time the two teams are meeting for the year and on all occasions Pacesetters prevailed as winners.
The Ravens have shown signs of a well gelled team in their quarter final clash with the Amelia’s Ward Jets last week while Pacesetters on the other hand has had an easy passage to the semis after literally walking past the useless Eagles Basketball Club.
Ravens showed that they can play without their star point guard Darcell Harris last week when he took the coaching role against the Jets.
In that game point guards Rodwel Fortune and sharp shooter Kevin Lawrence along with center Damien Liverpool took care of business without a hassle.
The Dyna’s sponsored team would want to keep that same high level of intensity if they are to stand a chance to stop Pacesetters.
Pacesetters are not flamboyant like their competitors as they stick to basic basketball and this makes them very dangerous.
Pacesetters have to be without coach and mentor Robert ‘Bobby’ Cadogan but in his absence forward Naylon Loncke has been doing a wonderful job in putting the team together.
He himself can step on the court and make an impact in the game where he could be seen also as a dominant factor. Stephon Gillis would need also to step up to the plate tonight after a miserable showing offensively earlier in the week.
Royston Siland, a key element in the courts lineup will have to walk with his ‘A’ game when he matches skills with the likes of Ryan Gullen and Liverpool.
Meanwhile the clash between the Wismar Pistons and the GTS Bulls is a case of uncertainty.
Basketball fanatics would know that the Bulls are not one of the strongest teams in the competition but after making light work of the Kashif and Shanghai Kings in the quarter finals, teams are starting to take a careful look at the Claude ‘Curry-Poke’ Williams coached side.
The animated Williams actually only have two primary players on his lineup in Kurleigh Austin and Terrence ‘Platam’ James while the others basically feed off the exploits of these two players.
It would not be an easy game against the Pistons who have a winning track record against them this year since Coach Raphael Damon and his troops are known for bringing their ‘A’ game every night.
Three players (Quincy Jones, Trevor Profit and Nevin Grenville) make the difference for the Pistons and the others basically tag along adding much needed support. They have proven this at all of the tournaments played and are also expected to do the same tonight.
The 2009 Brusche’s Classic will certainly see a Linden-Georgetown finals this year once again but a date for that match-up is still not known.
