Latest update January 10th, 2025 5:00 AM
Latest News
- Jagdeo-led PPP supported tax waivers to Exxon without seeing terms of oil contract
- President stomps Nandlall’s plan to appeal $24M awarded to Quindon Bacchus’ family
- More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, officials say
- Benn flags citizens lax approach to fire safety
- Chinese man missing after falling off new harbour bridge
New National Basketball Champion emerges tonight
-Will it be Linden’s Retrieve Raiders or Georgetown’s Colts?
By Edison Jefford
After what is expected to be an entertaining National Basketball Final tonight at 
Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall, a new champion will emerge from the contest that brings together two teams that are competing for their first national title in their second Finals appearance.
Linden’s Retrieve Raiders come up against Georgetown’s Colts United in the feature game of the National Basketball Championships: The Mackeson Road to Mecca III; they play for the coveted title and right to be called the best basketball club in Guyana.
This headline game, which is basically a showdown between the two strongest sub-associations, Linden Amateur Basketball Association and its Georgetown counterpart, follows what should be an entertaining third place game between the 2014 Champs, Dyna’s Ravens and 2015 Champs, Pacesetters.
The Ravens and Pacesetters game renews a decade-old rivalry among two of the best institutions in the sport in Guyana. The 1954 Ravens have stated that they are in the rebuilding phase; Pacesetters too are experimenting with their junior talent, but keeps the old vanguard.
The night begins at 6:30 pm when The Diplomatic Corps take on Pioneer Masters. This is before the best four clubs in Guyana take the court to decide the final ranking for the remainder of 2016. The night promises to be an epic climax to what has been an exciting tournament that took a turn when two unlikely candidates muscled their way to the Finals.
The Championships game is therefore a match-up between Colts efficient backcourt and Raiders formidable frontcourt. Raiders’ strength is its height advantage with centre, Jason Alonzo, and forwards Marvin Hartman, Omally Sampson, Dwayne Roberts and Neil Marks, combining for an average height of about 6’4” in the paint.
Colts’ backcourt will be challenged to get pass the Raiders towers. Point guard, Dave Causway leads an efficient backcourt that includes Shelroy Thomas, Kurt English and the sensational new addition from Kwakwani, swingman, 16-year-old, Stanton Rose.
Colts will leave Onicko Fraser and national centre, Shane Webster to battle the ‘bigs’, while the Raiders will hope point guard, Keon Cameron withstand the pressure of Colts guards. It will be a balanced contest given the notable advantage of both teams.
Before the Final, Candace Fields will woo patrons with the National Anthem. Fields perform for the halftime breaks as well. In addition to Fields, models, cheerleaders and props will dominate a final hoorah to bring the curtains down on the Championships.
The Mackeson Girls and Stereo Sonics Sound will add to the entertainment. Patrons will be able to win I-phones and Tablets during the breaks. Generally the night is set to be pulsating with the sport and entertainment colluding for a riveting climax.
Kirk ‘Chow Pow’ Jardine is the host. The winning team will pocket $500,000 while second place will go home with $250 000, third $150,000 and fourth $100 000 respectively. The national team for assignments this year will be selected from this tournament.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The unconscionable terms of the PSA establish a case for renegotiation
The unconscionable terms, The unconscionable terms Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA)... more
Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- It has long been evident that the world’s richest nations, especially those responsible... more
Weekend Cartoon
