Plaisance Guardians secured a controversial walkover win against Bounty Colts after the latter opted not to take the field in their u23 affair of the Turbo Hard-Court Championship on Wednesday at the Plaisance Community Court.
The incident occurred after Colts were told they could not field Stanton Rose and despite having only four players at their disposal. Rose’s debarring was based on a tourney rule which stated that teams could not alter their roster after completing three games.
President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Junior Hercules said that Colts President Michael Singh decided against playing the matchup once it was known that Rose was ineligible to play. Hercules declared that the event rules stipulated that changes cannot be made to the respective rosters after playing three matches even if injury occurs or the players are over the age limit.
“Rose’s name was not on the list and he could not play. When told of this, Singh said if Rose can’t play, his team would not be competing in the tournament,” he added.
However Singh fired back, stating he enquired if Rose could replace a player on his roster that was deemed over the age limit by GABA so that the fixture could proceed but was told it could not happen.
According to Singh, his team picked up several injuries during the event and at the start of the contest, had only four players as one player was on the way.
Singh noted he told the GABA President it would be pointless to continue as the rules are affecting the teams, declaring “I only have six players, three are 23 and told they cannot play. The rules did not state anywhere that at 23 you were ineligible to play, the same three players that are overage played earlier games.
Due to the walkover, Colts were eliminated from the running for the u23 title. They will have a chance to make amends during the ongoing Open Section.
Meanwhile, in the lone contested affair, Ravens downed Eagles by a 50-42 scoreline in their u23 fixture. Sebastian Luke top scored with 16 points and nine rebounds. He was supported by Nduko Horatio and Murtland Ward who chipped in with nine points apiece.
On the other side, Lyndon Wilson led the way with 10 points while the next best scorer with nine points was Darrel Williams. Tied 10-10 at the end of the first period, Ravens seized control of the fixture as they outscored Eagles 14-12 to lead 24-22 at the halftime interval.
Their lead was extended in the third quarter, scoring 11 points while restricting their opponent to seven points to enter the final stanza ahead at 35-29.
Ravens sealed the hard-fought contest as they outshot Eagles 15-13 in the fourth period. Action in the event is slated to continue today at the same venue.
The overall divisional winners of the event will be the teams that wins two out of the three stages. Winner of the opening stage held at the Burnham Court were Ravens and Pacesetters in the Open and u23 sections respectively.
