Pacesetters and Pepsi Sonics recorded contrasting wins when the inaugural edition of the “One Guyana” Basketball Premier League continued Saturday night at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Pacesetters mauled the Black Caimans 105-53. Zion Gray top scored with 21 points while Zamadrie De Jong was the next-best scorer with 19 points. Adding 15, 14, and nine points, respectively, were Nathan Saul, Jaleel Duke and Patrick Petrie. For Black Caimans, Shemar Morris scored 10 points while Shamar Graves and Osafo Johnson added eight and seven points apiece.
Meanwhile, Pepsi Sonics defeated Rising Stars 53-47. Joel Schultz, Alexander Matias and Samuel Domair scored seven, six, and five points respectively for the victors while for Rising Stars, Jamaine Booker tallied 20 points.
The tournament, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport (MCY&S) and G-Boats Incorporated, is being run by the Guyana Basketball Federation. It forms part of the National Sports Academy and features 14 teams divided into two zones, which are the Harpy Eagles and Jaguars Conferences, respectively.
A minimum of 56 fixtures and a maximum of 63 matches are projected for the competition, which concludes in March 2024.
The winner of the tournament, which will be played every Saturday at the National Gymnasium, will pocket $1,000,000, while the runners-up will receive $500,000.