Retrieve Raiders and Victory Valley Royals will contest the final of the third Rock Entertainment GT Beer Open Basketball Championship after defeating Kwakwani and Bulls respectively on Sunday at the Mackenzie Hard-court in Linden.
Given a bye to the final four section due to their ranking, Raiders defeated Kwakwani 66-56. Omally Sampson top scored in the win with 20 points while Neil Marks, Keon Cameron scored 11, 11 and seven points each.
For the losing team, Evans Johnson scored 18 points while Dwight Douglas and Leonard Primo netted 13 and 11 points respectively.
Raiders asserted their dominance as they took the first stanza 15-8 but Kwakwani reduced the deficit in the second period, outscoring Raiders 19-17 to enter the halftime break five points behind at 27-32.
Raiders held onto the marginal lead in the pivotal third period as they outshot Kwakwani 16-15 to enter the final period ahead at 48-42.
The number one ranked unit then closed out the contest, scoring 18 points while restricting their foes to 14 points.
In the second semi-final, Royals downed Bulls 67-49.
Orlando Glasgow led the way with 27 points while Trevor Profitt and Harold Adams supported with 13 and eight points each. For the Bulls, Terron Welch scored 17 points while Kevin Easton and Dennis Niles netted 11 and six points respectively.
The winners will now lock horns in the final on Saturday at the same venue, with the two losing semi-finalists facing off in the traditional third place playoff.
Meanwhile last Saturday at the same venue, Bulls extinguished Block 22 Flames 78-34 to clinched their berth to the final four section. Welch scored 24 points while Cleon Johnson and Stephen Cameron netted 13 and eight points apiece.
In the second match of the evening, Kwakwani grounded Bankers Trust Falcons 120-74. Johnson top scored with 24 points while Dwight Douglas and Primo scored 17 and 14 points respectively.
For the losers, Devon Thompson scored 21 points while Akeel Primo and Thornton Wilson chipped in with 18 and 10 points each.
