The Ithaca Hard-Liners and New Amsterdam [NA] Thunders match in the Berbice Amateur Basketball Association [BABA] ‘Karibee Rice’ Championship ended prematurely when the Thunders players walked off the court, led by their coach, citing poor officiating.
At the time of the abrupt end at the NA Court, the visiting unit was firmly in control at 8-0 less than four minutes into the first quarter.
Vibert Garrett, coordinator of the event said, “We are going to investigate the incident. We are going to sit down, discuss and decide on a solution going forward. You just can’t walk off the field, you play your game and then protest after. The coach’s attitude was very bad and the team could get sanctioned as well.”
The genesis of the problem started after the officials and the coordinator indicated to the home side that Shemar France was ineligible to play because he is presently a member of a Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association [GABA] team and therefore could not play in two different associations at the same time.
Garrett, who also has the portfolio of BABA President revealed, “The coach brought a player that is currently registered in a different association and the officials and I stated that he can’t play so he looked for an opportunity to create an issue so he blamed poor officiating and had his team walk off the court.”
He said that the match will not be replayed and the win will be awarded to Ithaca Hard-Liners.
“The coach’s attitude was very bad. It is indiscipline and we cannot condone that behavior. We are trying to develop basketball in Berbice and this type of behavior does not help,” Garrett added.
The five-team tournament continues September 9th at the NA court with Canje Knights battling Fyrish Black Sharks from 16:00hrs. Cash incentives and trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers.
