Third Division underdogs Nets sent Demerara Colours Panthers packing 52-43 while the number-one seeded Courts Pacesetters team sank newcomers East/West Fire 77-55 in matches on the opening night of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA) Open and Third Division knock-out tournaments.
Coming up against a well-oiled Pacesetters team, East/West Fire seemed fearless in the opening minutes of the game and actually stayed in the game trailing by only six points at half time (29-23).
But things took a turn for the worse afterwards with former junior national point guard Travis Burnett and Aubrey Smith forming a guard coalition that would put a break on the Kester Gomes-led debutants.
Pacesetters brought back Kurt ‘Gipsy’ Elias to their roster which added another “big man with flair” at the bottom to the busybody Royston Siland.
The pair cleaned up most of the boards but still, this did not deter Warren Oudkerk from pouring in a game-high 20 points albeit in a vain cause.
The GABA League Champs were too strong in the long run for East/West Fire and stormed to a comfortable win.
Burnett, Smith and power forward Clement Brusche each netted 10 points while Jason Kurt added 13 points for the losers who would now have to wait on till the next GABA tournament to make amends for their first time defeat.
Meanwhile, it was a heated third-division clash between Nets and Demerara Panthers who were donning their new outfits after being fully sponsored by Colours Boutique.
Looking sharp in the new gear, the Panthers came out roaring while the Nets played casually in the opening minutes but still led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Point guard Glenroy Adams who enjoyed a good game with the ‘rock’ begun to distribute the ball evenly and controlled the game well, but his supporting cast seemed not ready for the challenge and would allow the Panthers to claw their way to a hard fought 25-23 points lead at the end of half time.
This would set the tone for the rest of the game as the two teams would trade baskets with the Nets finding nothing but net most of the times while the Panthers after coming out from a well played first half, made some critical turn overs which would eventually cause them the game.
The Nets with Adams controlling the back court would calmly take the win and send the Panthers who are known for having a strong Third Division string packing.
Adams would finish the game with only eight points.
Mortimer Robertson scored a game high 16 points while Jamaal Thompson had nine for the Nets.
Kadeem Rose was the Panthers primary scorer with 11 points while Quasi Whittington scored seven.