It was by no means an easy task, but both Police and Detour Shak Attack, the 2015 reigning North Zone champion team and runner up respectively, booked their spots in the final of the Men’s National Championships, which is carded to start this evening at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena.
On Friday night at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando, it came down to which team wanted it the most and in the end it was Police emerging with a 67–62 win over Valencia Heat, the East Zone (Eastern Community Basketball League champion, in the opening match of the double-header and Shak Attack defeating Petro Jazz, 72–65, to claim their respective best in three semifinals series, 2–1.
For the third straight affair, the policemen, who lost the first match of the best-in-three series 98–85, but bounced back in the second to win 83–65, was piloted by forward Fabrice Fisher, a former stand-out of Valencia Heat. The forward topscored with 16 points in a match with quite a few lead changes. The first quarter belonged to the grey and the blue, holding a five-point (20–15) advantage going in the second period.
Valencia, through duo post player Duane Virgil, a former American NCAA Division 1 player and the talented centre/forward Michael Saunders, stepped up play offensively and gained control to close the first half leading by seven (36-29). Virgil finished with a match-high 23 and Saunders was close behind with 21.
However, Police did not go away and managed to regain the lead, 48–46, thanks to the support of Tegan Pembleton, who ended with 13 points. Police had one other player to score in double-figures, Ronell “Fig” Winter with ten as his team dominated the final quarter.
Wayne Richards, a former Maloney Pacers forward aided Virgil and Saunders on offence with 11 as Valencia tried to put up some resistance but it was not to be. The East-based team surrendered to a five-point loss.
In the second match, Shak Attack had four players reaching double-digits including forward Kurt “Cotto” Christian leading with 15, power-forward Andrew Ifill was big down in the post, hitting 14, while point-guard Orlando Mapp was quite efficient from beyond the three-point arc, connecting three in his total of 13. Forward Andy Best also assisted with 13 for the winner which put then ahead throughout the encounter.
The quarter scores read 21–19, 36–33 and 55–45 all in favour of Shak Attack, which like the other finalist won the its semifinals opener, 56–52, but fell in the second 73–71. Petro Jazz, the reigning Super 10 champions, was a worthy opponent and had some good showing from its players, getting 14 from forward Kevin Sargeant, nine of which came from three-pointers and centre Damien Caton, who produced ten.
Jazz can still walk away with some success but the South-based team will have to get by Valencia in the third place playoff at 5 pm at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena, then its on to the best-in-three final from 7 pm between Shak Attack and Police.
Results & Matches
Game 3 Semifinal
Police 67 (Fabrice Fisher 16, Tegan Pembleton 13, Ronell Winter 10) vs Valencia Heat 62 (Duane Virgil 23, Michael Saunders 21, Wayne Richards 11). Quarter scores: 20-15 (Police), 36-29 (Valencia), 48-46 (Police).
Shak Attack 72 (Kurt Christian 15, Andrew Ifill 14, Orlando Mapp 13, Andy Best 13) vs Petro Jazz 65 (Kevin Sargeant 14, Damien Caton 10). Quarter scores: 21-19, 36-33, 55-45 (Shak Attack).
Today’s matches
Third-place playoff
Valencia heat vs Petro Jazz, 5 pm
Championship Final
Police vs Shak Attack, 7 pm