|
May 1, 2008
Back to MBC Stats Page
| |
Weekend Prevue:
Round Eight
Second
Round Jumps Off
The title chase in the
Lucozade Sport Western Men's Basketball Championship (MBC)
resumes this weekend at the Montego Bay Cricket Club.
With the first round now history and the mid-season
title decided, attention now turns to the return round,
where points are absolutely important. Anticipate more
exciting match-ups in the weeks ahead as coaches,
management and players work acidulously towards their
championship goal. All the while threading cautiously to
avoid the dreaded drop zone where the bottom placed team
will be relegated to the lower division next season.
After a two week hiatus, seven teams are vying for the
season's premier prize and cash incentives. The second
round should serve as a catalyst for all teams they hunt
valuable points to catapult them into the quarter-final
round. Six teams are tightly bunched together where a
mere three (3) points separates 6th place from the top
two are jointly leading the championship.
On Saturday May 3rd, Sav-La-Mar Hawks (4-2) nestles in
3rd place and they will challenge 2nd place Hoopers
(5-1) who 'slaughtered' them on opening day winning by
24 points. Hoopers are however nursing their wounds
since losing their grip on the Mid-Season title and
trophy to Innercity Avalanche. It's quite possible they
are psychologically weak at the moment after seeing
their aura of invincibility blown to smithereens by
Avalanche who defeated them twice in three weeks. Hawks
missed out on the Mid-Season final will definitely be
looking to soar in this round while positioning
themselves as legitimate contenders come post season.
This match will not be one-sided for sure, therefore at
5pm when the whistle blows - expect non-stop action!
In the concluding game at 7pm, two 'prowlers' will be on
the hunt when Granville Wolfpack (2-4) who lie in wait
(6th position) aim to confine the submissive Bay City
Lions (0-6) to the cellar that has become their den all
season long. It will take a lion's heart for this pride
to redeem themselves. Wolfpack on the other hand, has
also suffered from an inconsistent season but knows that
for them to rise, this weekend's opponent represent the
first step towards achieving their goal. They devoured
the Lions in the first round and must be savoring the
thought that Lions could roll over and play dead again.
Sunday's game @ 5pm sees the newly crowned Mid-Season
Champions and Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) richer
co-leader Innercity Avalanche (5-1) matching skills with
the 'fleet-footed' fourth placed Granville Jaguars.
Here we have two youthful clubs with much to prove to
themselves and fans alike. Avalanche must guard against
complacency and fatigue while a well rested Jaguars
looks to exact revenge for a season opening loss to said
opponent. Jaguars came into their season with lofted
ambitions and while looking good on occasions have yet
to hit its stride, this second half of the season could
be their platform of launching a serious challenge for
the title. Avalanche has to remain cognizant that a
championship is not won at mid-season.
By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.
|
|
