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Champion Sav Hawks
goes for second title in a Row
The Montego Bay Cricket Club court will be rocking with
excitement this weekend as the finals of the Lucozade
Sport Men’s Basketball Championship with games one and
two of the best of three series. Both matches will
commence at 7pm and game three if necessary, will take
place the following Sunday, July 22 at the same venue.
After sixty games involving eight teams, the division
one season culminates with just two teams challenging
for one trophy, thus earning the title as champions.
Will it be the defending champions – Sav-La-Mar Hawks
from Westmoreland or Catherine Hall All-Stars from
Montego Bay whom won their last title back in 1999?
TEAM HISTORY
Sav Hawks was founded in 1993 and have played in five
consecutive league finals (1993-1998) and were
eventually crowned champions in 2006 as well as the 2007
Open Rally prior to the start of the Men’s Championship.
Similarly, Catherine Hall All-Stars were formed in 1997
and shared similar achievements as their counterparts,
but bitterness crept in when the team was demoted to the
lower tier Division 2 in 2006, but so did sweetness when
they regained promotion in 2007. This is their third
league finals appearance.
ROAD TO THE FINALS
The reigning champs finished this season with an 8 win,
5 loss record with a 64.62 scoring average per game
while conceding only 62.92 points per game (league’s
best). They led the standings during the first three
rounds of the regular season, falling as low as number
five. Hawks eventually cemented themselves in third spot
matching them against number six ranked Hopewell Cobras
in the elimination quarter-final. Then sent the number
ranked Inner-city Avalanche, the league’s most offensive
team sliding out of the semi-finals series and ending
their fairytale season by sweeping them 2-0. It was deja
vu all over for Avalanche as they suffered a similar
fate last season to the very opponents. Catherine Hall
All-Stars were humbled by being regulated to division
two last year, but managed to be one of the two division
2 finalists. Promoted as a result, they ended their
division one season with a 7 win, 6 loss record while
serving 72.9 point per game and giving up 73.31
defensive points per game giving them a number four
ranking. All-Stars eeked out a one point victory over
number five ranked and current 2007 Mid-Season champions
Hoopers in their elimination quarter-final before
turning back the challenge of the Rainbow Storm sweeping
them 2-0 in their semifinal series encounter.
Hawks won the only regular season match way back on
March 17, this year when they defeated All-Stars by
eight points. Hawks seemed to have peaked at the right
time and are favored to repeat as champions. Reigning
MVP and team captain Maurice Rodriquez, Dillon Hodges
are proven scorers and also stalwarts on the defensive
end of the court – making things difficult for
opponents. The quickness of prolific scorer Robert “Bob”
Spence who scores easily from inside as well as outside
and the agility of point guard Errol Smith combined with
wily veteran George Beckford, Kenneth “Tuggy” Blackwood,
and the enigmatic Richard “Nesta” Foster in support will
be a handful on their way to an unprecedented two
championships in a row.
On the other hand, the steadily rising All-Stars have
being on a mission to topple top-seeded teams who try to
prevent them from advancing. They will hope their
winning streak continues in their efforts to dethrone
the defending champions and ultimately lifting another
title. Catherine Hall will hope that their loyal
supporters will bring the noise and the funk. Their
players look to rise to the occasion, Captain and
co-founder Damian Curtis will the man orchestrating
‘top-gun’ Goyan Malcolm who is a seasoned and clever
player with National Basketball League (NBL) experience
which proves why he is a chore for defenders in this
league to guard as he can score at will either from
behind the arch or above the rim! Then former Cornwall
College star, Jermaine Dillon shrugging off injury seems
to be regaining his lost mojo at the right time, he
possess soft hand for a big man, and some eloquent
footwork combined with his upper body strength and
several lethal shooting arsenals at his disposal. If he
gets hot early, Hawks’ will be in serious trouble. Then
there is Neville Christie, the wily, unorthodox yet deft
left hander who all season long ran circles around
defenses with his quick first steps opening up the lane
for uncontested drives, open passes to teammates or wide
open jump shots. He reminds you of Manu Ginobli from the
San Antonio Spurs, tough as they come and his team will
need him to click this weekend.
Will it be David (All-Stars) or Goliath (Hawks)? Will it
be the champions or the underdogs? Come out and enjoy
the excitement.
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