Junior ‘ballers’ set up riveting clash

Sep 04, 2009 Sports

– in LABA Under-23 semis tonight

Orin Rose

By Edison Jefford
The Mecca of basketball in Linden will once again become a hive of activity tonight with the arrival of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) Under-23 semi-final, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard-Court.
It will be a battle of the best junior basketball talents in Linden amid a chance to put their respective teams into tomorrow night’s final. Kings play Victory Valley Royals, while Bulls are expected to charge New Ballers in the second semi-final game.
Sharp shooting sensation Chris Williams will lead Royals against their former number one challengers, Kings, who have since lost their crown and throne; hence this game should be endowed with Royalty.
Kings reached the final by default when Jets, who smothered them in a preliminary game, had a player that was over the age requirement. It was an unnecessary blunder because of the prowess of young prodigy Akeem Khanai.
Chris Williams will have a sharp shooting contest against the more rounded Orin Rose. Rose has single-handedly won games before, but those past heroics will be heavily tested against the foundation of Royals.
The two junior players are likely to get all the attention and whoever gets the ‘big game’, his team will win. The second semi is a bit more imbalance than the first with the emergence of New Ballers at this level in the sport.

Chris Williams

New Ballers are a young and budding bunch of players without the compliment of a more successful Division 1 basis unlike the other teams. They are the only club without such needed exposure.
Mark Rose will lead the charge for Bulls. The team has a decent and stable foundation with Claude Williams at the helm. However, it has been know to choke in big games and tonight is nothing less than grand.
The eyes of the senior players and clubs in Linden will be on these youngsters through to the final tomorrow night. The separation of the consistent from the occasional will be made. The stage is all set.