A win for Valencia Heat over Quarters United tomorrow, will see them ascend to second place, tied with Detour Shak Attack on 13 points in the National Basketball Championships.
The teams will meet at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena in the second match of a double-header from 8.30 pm. Petro Jazz and BTU Ballers will open the night’s play at 7 pm.
Valencia will look to its star players Michael Saunders and Randy Greenidge to put on a display as they did in beating Upstate by 40 points (101-61) in their previous match. Saunders dominated with 35 points while Greenidge sank 21.
Shak Attack slipped to the runner’s up spot after Police sealed a 66-52 win over Quarters United on Thursday night at the Jean Pierre Complex in Mucurapo.
The policemen were led by guard/forward Adrian Joseph, who sanked four three-pointers in getting to a match-high 17 points. His teammate forward Fabrice Fisher added 13 while post-player Dextroy Manswell was good for nine in the 14-point victory.
Quarters had three players including Kino Fleary (14), Kirk Wattie (12) and Luciano Cedeno (10) reaching double-figures as they got the south-based team off well, matching Police offensively as the first period closed tied at 14.
Police stepped up its game and with Joseph leading the way pushed ahead at the half, establishing a nine-point (34-25) advantage. They progressed even further by the third session, allowing Quarters to only score 13, to gain a 52-38 lead.
Play in final quarter was balance with Quarters again matching Police points wise (14-14) but the deficit was too great for the former team to overcome.
In the opening match, Siparia Ballplayers earned its second win of the competition, topping Ministry of Sports (MOS) Schoolaz, 88-80.
The upset was led by Abede Benjamin topscoring with 32 and Roger Paul, who was brutal beyond the three-point arc, netting seven three-pointers in getting to 23. Jazel Cedeno also did some damage, connecting 16 in the eight-point victory. Dale Copeland and Triston Benjamin were impressive for Schoolaz, notching 26 and 22, respectively while their teammates Keya Blackett and Daniel Francis poured in 13 points each but they still went away with the loss.
Results
Schoolaz 80 (Dale Copeland 26, Triston Benjamin 22, Keya Blackett 13, Daniel Francis 13) vs Siparia 88 (Abede Benjamin 32, Roger Paul 23, Jazel Cedeno 16). Quarter scores: 13-13, 40-34 (Schoolaz), 60-43 (Schoolaz).
Police 66 (Adrian Joseph 17, Fabrice Fisher 13, Dextroy Manswell 9) vs Quarters United 52 (Kino Fleary 14, Kirk Wattie 12, Luciano Cedeno 10). Quarter scores: 14-14, 34-25 (Police), 52-38 (Police).
Tomorrow’s matches
(At Maloney)
Petro Jazz vs BTU, 7 pm
Quarters vs Valencia Heat, 8.30 pm.
STANDINGS
TEAMS P W L Def Pts
Police 7 7 0 0 14
Shak Attack 7 6 1 0 13
Valencia Heat 7 4 3 0 11
MOS Schoolaz 8 3 5 0 11
Petro Jazz 5 4 1 0 9
Quarters United 6 3 3 0 9
Siparia Ballplayers 7 2 5 0 9
BTU Ballers 5 1 3 0 6
Upstate 8 0 8 2 6
Rachael King