Four players reached double-figures for Valencia Heat as it drew first blood in the opening match of the best-in-three semifinals series of the Men’s National Basketball Championships on Saturday night at the Maloney Indoor Sports Arena. Heat, which placed fourth in the preliminary round, upset top finisher Police, 98-85.
Heat forward Randy Greenidge, a former Police player, led with 22 points with his teammates centre/forward Michael Saunders and guard Kyeon Joseph getting 18 each and guard Kevon Noriega adding 11 in the see-saw match, to close in on a spot in the final, which is carded to start on Sunday. Shak Attack is in a similiar position, grabbing a win in game one over Petro Jazz, 56-52, in a low-scoring match.
Police also had four players reaching double-digits, but they were on the losing end. Forward Fabrice Fisher, a former stand-out with Heat, nocthed a match-high 24 points, and post-player Dextroy Manswell, who heled Petro Jazz to the 2013-2014 Super 10 Basketball League title, hit 15, and former Caledonia Clippers talent Wesley Vincent netted 13 and centre Phillip Alexander, who had a stint with Detour Shak Attack poured in 10.
From the jump, it was Heat leading at the end of the first quarter, 21-19. However, the policemen fought back and established a 39-37 advantage at the half, only to relinquish it at the end of the third session. Heat held a six-point (66-60) lead going into the final quarter.
The Valencia-based team went on to outscore the policemen, 32-25, and held on for the 13-point victory.
The second match of the double-header contrast tremendously as defence played a major role.
Leading the attack for the winner was power forward Andrew Ifill, who topped with 19. He got the support of shooting guard Sheldon Christian with 10 as Shak Attack held the lead throughout but by very small margins—14-11 in the first, 27-26 at the halfway mark and 43-41 in the third.
Guard Ako Pascall and post-player Damien Caton was the best offensively for Petro Jazz, scoring 18 and 11, respectively but their effort fell just short as they went away with the four-point loss.
Both Police and Petro Jazz were looking to rebound from their opening series defeats when they took to the court at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena in Pleasantville, San Fernando last night in game two. If they manage to force a third match, the decider will be played at the same venue on Friday night from 7 pm.
Results
Saturday’s Game-1 semi-final
Police 85 (Fabrice Fisher 24, Dextroy Manswell 15, Wesley Vincent 13, Phillip Alexander 10) vs Valencia Heat 98 (Michael Saunders 18, Randy Greenidge 22, Kyeon Joseph 18, Kevon Noriega 11). Quarter scores: 21-19 (Valencia), 39-37 (Police), 66-60 (Valencia).
Shak Attack 56 (Andrew Ifill 19, Sheldon Christian 10, Kern George 7) vs Petro Jazz 52 (Ako Pascall 18, Damien Caton 11, Kenneth Roberts 6, Kirk Baptiste 6). Quarter scores: 14-11 (Shak Attack), 27-26 (Shak Attack), 43-41 (Shak Attack).