Dynas Ravens were crowned Guyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABF) Road to Mecca National Club Champions, crushing Linden unit Retrieve Raiders 85-57 in the grand finale at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Sunday.
Akeem Kanhai led the newly crowned national champs with figures of 20 points, eight rebounds, four blocks and five steals.
He was assisted by Rodwell Fortune who netted 18 points, Jermaine Slater who contributed a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds and eventual final Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dominic Vicente, who netted 16 points inclusive of five threepointers and grabbed five steals.
On the losing side, Neil Marks led the way with 14 points and 15 rebounds while Dwayne ‘Sugar’ Roberts recorded 14 points and 14 rebounds and Dwight McKinnon scored 12 points.
In a fixture that promised so much following a 26-23 score at the half in the favour of the visitors, a third quarter combination of stifling defence and quick transition offence by the home side simply sealed the contest.
Reducing the Linden side to only nine points in the quarter, Ravens led by Fortune’s seven point output and Ryan Stephney’s five point display, netted an impressive 27 points in the period.
Their dominance in the period would be highlighted by Vicente’s fade-away three point dagger with 13 seconds left on the clock, sending the sold out crowd into a frenzy and extending their then lead to 15 points as the third finished at 50-35.
The final quarter would prove to be a highlight reel of Kanhai and Vicente cameos as the Georgetown side continued to dominate their arch-rivals in the lopsided fixture.
Kanhai would start the festivities with a monstrous one-handed dunk with 7:14 on the clock. However, Vicente would steal the spot light as he nailed back to back three point missiles between 5:42 and 6:12.
Kanhai would reply to Vicente’s efforts with 3:47 left on the clock by rising emphatically to deliver a crushing block on Keon Cameron as he drove to the basket. He would then unleash a two handed dunk after receiving a pass from steal with less than two minutes left on the clock.
With the win, Ravens collected the first place title and $400,000. Raiders for their efforts walked away with $200,000 and the second place trophy.
In the earlier third place matchup, Bounty Colts led by a Shelroy Thomas effort of 20 points, four rebounds and six steals, humbled Linden side Amelia’s Ward Jets 71-48.
Capping off the huge win were Nikkoloi Smith with figures of 15 points, four rebounds and three steals and Dave Causeway who recorded figures of 11 points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Alistair Webster lead the losers with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds. He was assisted by siblings Joel who netted 10 points and Shane who contributed eight points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
For the win, Colts will pocket $100,000 while Jets will walk away with the same amount.
In the opening exhibition fixture, the Diplomatic Corp silenced the Media, winning by a 78-59 margin. Sherwin Young led the winners with 19 points while Marvin Durant and Devon Cameron netted 16 and 14 points respectively.
Netting a game high 29 points in a losing effort was Yannick December whilst Yannick Charles grabbed 13 points.
