LABA/Malta Supreme Basketball finalists decided

Jan 03, 2013 Sports

Pollydore leads Royals in Kings upset 59-50 as Jets ease past Bulls 61-51

The fourth ranked team Victory Valley Royals upended top seed Kashif and Shanghai Kings in dramatic fashion 59-50, while number two Amelia’s Ward Jets staved off another upset by winning by a ten point margin 61-51 against third seed Half Mile Bulls, when the semifinals of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) organized Malta Supreme Christmas Basketball Championship were played on Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Victory Valley Royals Fabulous Five that pulled them past Kings;
(from left) Stephen Couchman, Orlando Glasgow, Harold Adams,
Marlon Pollydore and Chris Williams after the game.

Playing in the night cap on the double header, Kings seemed to be enjoying their game as they played to their pace and with set plays, using the big mismatch of no one available for the Royals to mark centre Jason Alonzo, as they led through three quarters of the game at 18-15, 29-26 and 43-39 going into the final stanza of play.
With a large crowd gathered for semifinals night and the east versus west of Linden rivalry at its best, no one could have expected better on a night when the matchups were intense indeed. It was at this stage that the Royals’ dangerous pair of former Under-19 nationals guard Marlon Pollydore and forward Chris Williams along with forward Orlando Glasgow combined to seize control from the Kings with their game of sound fundamental play and eye popping transition basketball.
They wrestled control form their opponents in a flash as their flashy steals ignited some break away baskets as Marlon Pollydore first scored a layup and then knocked one from beyond the three point line followed by another by Williams.
The quick moving inside game of power forward Harold Adams in tandem with Pollydore and Williams snatched the initiative before a stunned Kings side, featuring such big names like national skipper Steve Neils (Jr.) former national Under-19 captain Marvin Hartman, past national centre Jason Alonzo and forward Abdulla Hamid and an out of touch former Under-19 shooting guard Orin Rose.
Alonzo was in a no nonsense mood but the speed and agility of the Royals in the dying moments of the game put paid to his hopes of carrying the Kings to victory as he dominated for 13 points as Hartman had 12 and Abdulla Hamid eight with Omally Sampson getting seven.
Royals can thank themselves due to the energy and passing of their best players as Pollydore had a game high 18 points, Adams contributed 16, Orlando Glasgow supported well for his 12 as Williams, who had five of his seven points scored in the crucial final quarter of the game.
In the first game Jets propelled by national centre Shane Webster, who had a game high 24 points, proved too much for a spirited showing by the Bulls who had won the last BOSAI Open Challenge tournament in November but were unable to reach the finals of this championship.
Captain Kevin ‘Two feet’ Joseph had 13 and then returning swingman Neil Simon added 19 for the Jets who won by comfortably. For the Bulls, Michael Turner continued with his scoring form with 17 points.
The losers will play for the third place, while the winners will clash for the championship title on Saturday when the finals are set to be played at the tournament venue the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.