Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters survived a fourth quarter offensive surge from Pepsi Sonics to clinch the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Trifecta First Division title winning 75-71 Saturday at the Burnham Court.
Leading 61-50 going into the final period, TGH Pacesetters held off the surging Mandela Avenue-based unit led by eventual tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jason Squires and Junior Lovell even though they were outscored 21-14.
Squires netted eight points in the period inclusive of a three-point missile in the opening minute while Lovell scored five points as his side went on a 15-0 run in the final stanza to take the lead at 65-61 in 5:58.
TGH Pacesetters would eventually net their first points in the period as Travis Burnette scored with 5:07 remaining. This would then lead to a momentum shift as TGH Pacesetters retook the lead at 70-68 with Burnette and Joslyn Williams combining for four points.
The scores would then become 75-71 as Crawford, Travis Williams and Royston Siland extended the lead with 11.6 seconds left on the clock, sealing the championship in the process.
With the win, TGH Pacesetters walked away with the championship accolade while Pepsi Sonics received the second place award.
Leading the winners with 24 points was Burnette. He was assisted by Williams and Crawford who netted 21 and 12 points respectively. MVP Squires was the primary scorer for the losers with 28 points.
He was assisted by Earl O’Neil, Devon Spooner and Lovell who scored 11, eight and seven points correspondingly.
The opening period started with TGH Pacesetters battling to a 20-16 lead compliments of an 11-point showing from Williams which was littered with three-three pointers and a four-point haul by Burnette.
Squires was the main scorer for Sonics who missed a combined eight free throws in the period. He netted five points. The hard-fought encounter would continue in the second period as Sonics outscored Pacesetters 17-16 to go into the half trailing 36-33.
Squires once again led the Mandela Avenue side with six points while O’Neil supported with five points. Another dismal showing from the foul line highlighted the quarter for the Sonics as they missed a further six free throws.
Burnette and Siland were the main threats for Pacesetters in the period as they scored five and four points respectively through layups.
The dismal shooting at foul line would prove to be the difference in the fixture as Sonics missed 11 more attempts while being outscored 25-17 in the pivotal third quarter. Burnette was once again the engineer of the Pacesetters offence, netting 10 points by
constantly attacking the rim.
He was supported by Williams who shot his way to six points compliments of two three pointers in the 7:50 and 6:38 respectively.
Once again the primary scoring threat for the losers was Squires who netted seven points. Upon the conclusion of the event, a brief presentation ceremony was held. Receiving the trophy for third division winner was Plaisance Guardians.
Collecting the MVP title for this section was Plaisance Guardians Colwin Nurse. Receiving the second division championship trophy was Colts while Nikkoloi Smith of the winning side was adjudged to be the division’s MVP.
