Final Four refuels for Sunday

Mar 14, 2014 Sports

– ‘Road to Mecca’ continues

By Edison Jefford
Social networks have been abuzz ahead of Sunday’s much-anticipated National Basketball Club Championships Final Four as teams refuel to continue the journey on the ‘Road to Mecca’ which is the official name of what is a nation-wide competition.
From 16 teams drawn from the Berbice, Georgetown and Linden sub-associations for basketball, the tournament is down to four teams, Amelia’s Ward Jets and Retrieve Raiders from Linden and Colts and Dyna’s Ravens from long-time nemesis, Georgetown.
The two Linden teams will clash in the first game Sunday night from 6pm with Colts playing the indomitable Ravens in the featured game. With both number one seeds from the Georgetown and Linden blocks out of the competition, it means that an underdog team will become 2014 National Champions after the March 23 Grand Finale.

The ‘Road to Mecca’ National Basketball Club Championships has succeeded in returning the interest to the sport. The Final Four Playoffs of the competition will be played on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

After Sunday’s showdown, the two teams that renew the Linden vs. Georgetown rivalry will be known with two more teams exiting before the final; which two teams are likely to play for what will be a coveted title which has sparked debates among pundits.
Forward Neil Marks has not yet had a dominant game for Raiders and will have to be at his best to assist Dwayne Roberts and guard, Keon Cameron. Roberts racked in a mammoth 20 rebounds to beat Linden’s best, Kings, in a nail-biting two-point win.
Roberts had 20-plus points to support his rebounding column. It speaks volumes of the amount of work Roberts had to do to get his team over the line. The work load will have to be divided in equal parts if Raiders are going to beat the very talented Jets.
Marks has to come to the party for Raiders to have a chance against Jets that has flown through the tournament untested. Jets’ Centre, Shane Webster among four others in the paint, will be too much for Roberts to battle alone; they will overwhelm him.
Jets’ guard Rodwell Pelew has had a good tournament as well and is a handful in the backcourt with veteran, Kevin Joseph. On Paper, Jets seemed the more balanced and talented team on-court and on the bench, but Raiders beast-mode is very threatening.
Ravens seemed the clearer cut team to reach the final, but Colts cannot be made to be underdogs in their contest; after all, Colts are ranked higher at number two opposed to Ravens fourth seed in Georgetown. But Ravens have proven that ranking means nothing after knocking off the top seed in the City, Pacesetters last weekend with a three-point win.
Colts running game with Shelroy Thomas, who is the leading scorer in the tournament, and Dave Causway, have proven a difficulty for many teams. They have strengthened their inside with Steve McSeen and will have to play forward, Dane Kendal against Ravens.
However, the brand of basketball Ravens have unleashed over the last few months has had very high standards and will challenge Colts to be at their very best. After all, to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that will be the theme of Sunday’s contest.
Everything is on the line from Sunday for four teams. The crowds have been steadily increasing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine have provided the right environs for entertainment. The ‘Road to Mecca’ continues Sunday night.