Things are heating up in the NBA with the semi-finals well underway. Here in St Lucia basketball fever is also at a high pitch following semi-final action over the weekend in the Rooster Select National Men’s Tournament.
Let’s face it, for many the semi-final encounter at the Beausejour Indoor Facility between the undefeated VBCC Warlords and Courts Jets seemed more like a final. They were by far the two best two teams in the competition, however, facing each other in the semi-finals eliminated one of them. In this case it was the Warlords who lost the battle.
Courts Jets advanced to the finals following a 74-62 win over Warlords. For Jets it was sweet revenge after losing by one point to Warlords in the preliminary round.
A decisive factor in the game was the fact Jets were able to contain Warlord’s high scoring centre Marcian Calderon. Although dominant on the boards with 18 rebounds he only scored 12 points.
Jets led 14-13 after the first quarter and at the half built up a 37-27 lead which proved too much for Warlords to overcome.
In the end, Jets cruised to victory with Ron Dumurville leading the way with a game high 26 points to go along with four rebounds and the same number of steals. His performance earned him the Sandals Latoc Player of the Game. Veteran point guard Shane Blanchard chipped in with 16 points and also had four rebounds and four steals.
Nigel Butcher top scored for Warlords with 14 points and six rebounds.
Canaries Moon River Champs booked their first ever trip into the finals of the national tournament after defeating the Gardens Athletic Club 58-47.
Canaries was led by their influential captain Durocher Antoine with 19 points and six steals, carrying his team to their second victory against the Gardens team in this year’s tournament. He got the nod for the Bay Gardens Player of the Game.
So the finals are now set and will begin on Sunday. The third place game between Gardens and VBCC Warlords tips off at 6:00pm in a best of three playoff series, followed by the championship game between Canaries Moon River Champs vs Courts Jets in a best of three playoff series which begins at 8:00pm at the Beausejour Indoor Facility.
Game two of the best of three is scheduled for June 9 and Game three if necessary June 16.
