Burger King Clapham Bulls and 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics Progress to President’s Cup Final in Barbados Amateur Basketball Association

Burger King Clapham Bulls and 246 Mobile Shop City United Celtics are set to do battle in the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association President’s Cup final, after both teams won their respective semi-finals at the Barbados Community College (BCC) on Wednesday night.

While Bulls defeated Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers, 83-69, to take the two-leg semi-final 189-162 on aggregate, Celtics turned over Island Care Ambulance Service & BodyxB Lakers, 97-79, to win 189-148 on aggregate.

Entering the game with a 13-point advantage (106-93) from the first leg, Bulls did not need to win but had to ensure they did not lose by more than 13. And after finding themselves down by 14 at 26-40 in the second quarter, pride became a factor and they fought back to win by 14 in the end.

Simeon Maynard led their charge with 22 points and five assists, while Rasheed Maynard scored 19 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and dished out six assists with four steals.

Rahiim Gibbons shot well for 11 points, Antoine Winter added 11 and veteran Akeem Marsh contributed eight points, 13 rebounds and five blocks.

The Cavaliers came out fighting with everything to lose and set an intense pace to the game, winning almost every dive or scuffle for loose balls.

Their forwards, Adriel ‘AB’ Brathwaite, Deveron Knight and Zachary Cave, moved fluidly in the paint, out-manoeuvring the Bulls in the middle and earning several offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities to score.

Midway through the second quarter, Cavaliers found themselves up 33-26, with Bulls struggling to keep Knight off the glass and leaving him to end the first half with 17 points as the Cavs led 40-33.

Frustrations boiled over towards the end of the half, leading to a scuffle after Bulls centre Akeem Marsh and Gavin Phillips of Station Hill, became entangled as they vied for a rebound.

Phillips fell backwards to the floor, sparking protests from Cavaliers head coach Adrian Craigwell, and assistant coach Kenmore Phillips, the father of Gavin.

Things seemed to settle down under the watchful eyes of referees René Batson and Shawn Harding but another scuffle ensued during the break, with players Phillips and Marsh having to be separated by teammates, fans, and officials.

Surprisingly, on resumption, no technicals were given by the officials.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, within minutes of the start of the third quarter, Knight went down with an apparent blow to the groin and had to be escorted off the court to recover with his side up 44-36.

His absence triggered an immediate run by the Bulls and they took a 51-50 lead with six minutes remaining in the quarter. The two teams traded baskets, and the third ended with the Bulls up by one, 65-64.

From there, Cavaliers seemed to fall apart, scoring only five points in the final quarter while the Bulls put up 18 at the other end. The momentum had now fallen into the lap of the Bulls, who also scored their free-throws down the stretch.

In the other semi-final, Celtics again made it look simple, winning by 41 on aggregate to advance to the final.

Celtics captain Deroni Hurley of the Celtics had a night-high 24 points with four three pointers, while Kiserian ‘Csec’ Adams finished with 18, Theo Greenidge, 15 and Renico Brewster, 11.

David Walkes led Lakers with 23 points and ten assists while Tyreke ‘Lanks’ Harewood had 18 points with 10 rebounds.

The two-leg final will bounce off Friday, March 7 at the BCC Gym at 8 pm.

(AS)