LABA Basketball Festival...Rain stalls first round games

LABA Basketball Festival…Rain stalls first round games

Aug 22, 2008 Sports

Sudden rainfall cancelled Wednesday night’s scheduled games of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association’s (LABA) Summer Basketball Festival involving the top eight teams in Linden at the Mackenzie Sports Club.

Patriots were down to play the Kashif and Shanghai Kings in game one while Alleyne’s Retrieve Raiders would have contested game two against Victory Valley Royals in the first round of the Super Eight, Division One event.

But rain, which began around 7pm in the Mining Town, forced LABA Executives and Promoters, Elite Promotions Incorporated to cancel the night’s games, which were tentatively reset for last night at the same venue.

LABA General Secretary, Joe Chapman told Kaieteur Sport Wednesday night that the tournament schedule will not be interrupted once the games are played before tonight’s semi–final round of the competition.

“Once we play the games tomorrow (last night), we will be back on track for Friday. It’s just that teams may have to play back–to–back,” Chapman said.

Asked if the teams were officially informed of the situation, the LABA General Secretary
indicated that they were apprised but added that if they were not sufficiently informed, those games will be played tonight instead.

“The teams were informed. If we didn’t inform them properly then we will just play those games on Friday (tonight),” he noted.

Wismar Pistons and Jets have already advanced to the semi–final stage after wins on the opening night Monday. The two teams eliminated New Ballers and Glands Trucking Service Bulls in the process of their wins.

The first place team takes home $80,000 while second and third places get $40,000 and $20,000 respectively. This is the first major basketball promotion for Elite Inc. after the New Era Tournament fell through this year. (Edison Jefford)