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The Media lead list of three quarterfinalists
The battle for possession between Son/Son Barber Shop and G Guyana Defence Force 'B' Team goes airborne last night in the Inter-Organisation Basketball Championships at Cliff Anderson's Sports Hall.
The Media, Son/Son Barber Shop Melanie and John Fernandes were the first three teams through to the quarterfinals of the 2011 Inter-Organisation Basketball Championship after enduring hours of gruelling competition in the preliminary round of the tournament.
With some 32 teams registered for the competition, eight groups of four teams emerged with the top two teams advancing in each group. The event was supposed to have been a one-day affair at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, but it became obvious that the competition has out-grown a solitary day with a continuation set for tomorrow at the same venue.
The Media defeated the Akeem Kanhai-led Giftland OfficeMax 22-21 in the last game of Sunday night’s proceedings. The hunt for corporate glory in the sport started just before lunch and ended with just three teams qualifying for the quarterfinals tomorrow night.
Son/Son Barber Shop of Melanie and John Fernandes Limited had wins against Guyana Defence Force ‘B’ Team and Republic Bank respectively to make the last eight. John Fernandes piped the John Fraser-led Republic Bank 8-7 in a highly defensive battle.
It was clear on Sunday that some teams are taking the event as more than just a ‘basketball dress-down’ for the corporate community with Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Neal and Massy Group among the most strong and most impressive thus far.
Defending Champions, Guyana Power and Light are among those expected to make the last eight as well. The three teams were among the better organised, uniformed and well-supported at what was definitely the biggest edition in the four-year history of the event.
Following the realisation that all the games cannot be played on the one day, and The Media set as a feature game against Giftland OfficeMax, most of the other ‘big’ teams settled to return to Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tomorrow for the last half of the tournament.
Giftland was off to an excellent offensive start, leading The Media 6-2 early in the first half of a 7:30 minutes per half running time period. However, with Guyana Times Kiev Chesney working inside, The Media was able to pull the game back and take a 9-8 lead.
Yannick December and Rawle Toney combined on offence to help the media sustain their lead in a gruelling contest against Giftland. Kerwin Blades assisted The Media with excellent defence on Kanhai, who made an unusual amount of turnovers owed to the pressure.
However, the turnovers from Kanhai were minor compared to the three free throws he missed in crunch-time. Leading 22-17 with two minutes left to play in the game, he was fouled attempting a three-point jumper and placed on the line for three free-throws.
Kanhai missed all, but immediately resorted to full-court pressure defence that caused four points that went unanswered, leaving The Media in a situation to maximise the time on the clock, which they did successfully to hold on to the win and enter the quarterfinals.
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