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March
7, 2008
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Weekend Prevue: Round One
75 Games, 8 Teams, 1 Champion
 The
2008 WBA/Lucozade Sport Men's Basketball Championship (MBC)
season resumed after a long 8 month break this past
Saturday at the Montego Bay Cricket Club. This season
attention will be placed on the hard court as the
region's top 8 clubs will again compete for cash, prizes
and the coveted Lucozade Sport champions' trophy.
Teams will play seven (7) games in round one; at the end
of which the top two (2) will vie for the Mid Season
trophy and $10,000 cash, while the loser will pocket
$5,000. The second round will emulate the first; teams
will play another seven (7) games against each other, at
this point two (2) bottom of the table teams won't
compete any longer. The season will break for a week to
accommodate the All-Star game and Hoopla Festival.
Only the top six (6) teams will advance to the quarter
final where teams will be placed in two groups where
teams play each other twice. The top two in each
respective group will advance to a best-of-three
semi-final with subsequent winners facing off in the
best-of-five finals. The champion will receive
$30,000.00 and trophy while the beaten finalist will
take home $15, 000.00.
Both finalists will have a chance of qualifying for the
National Basketball League (NBL) by the way of national
playoffs. There will be a new champion this season as
the defending 2007 MBC champions - Catherine Hall
All-Stars will be pursuing grander prospects since they
have gained promotion to the NBL.
That being said, last season's finalists Sav-La-Mar
Hawks seems to be perennial contenders and pre-season
favorites, based on a poll conducted our website -
wbajamaica.com. Expect strong challenge from the
Innercity Avalanche, who were actually the best team
heading into last season's semi-finals. Despite losing
team lynchpin Adolph Erskine to emigration,
expect them to contend. Hoopers are the reigning Mid
Season & President's Cup Knockout champs, they have a
lot to prove and made strategic changes to their roster
so as to overcome last season's weaknesses.
Bay City Lions and Hopewell Cobras are hoping to return
to former glory days, but must overcome numerous
organizational and disciplinary issues for either to
seriously be viewed as contenders. Being former
champions, never count them out.
Granville Jaguars and Wolfpack, the two promoted teams
should not expect the red carpet treatment, as it is
expected that they will have to get acclimated to the
upper division style of play. Both have within their own
ranks experienced personnel and strong management team,
Jaguars in particular are one talented bunch, combined
with the mix of new faces, Douglas Powell -
former point guard for Innercity Avalanche and Ryan
Harrison - Hoopers' veteran centre. Jaguars will aim
to replicate Catherine Hall's success story by winning
both the Division 2 and the Division 1 in consecutive
seasons.
More emphasis will be placed on ensuring that the fans
and followers will benefit from fan-friendly,
family-oriented atmosphere. Contests and games will take
place during timeouts or halftimes of pre-selected
games, where both young and older fans can take part to
win great prizes and surprises from our promotional
sponsors.
Patrons are reminded that entry fees for regular season
games are $100.00 and $50 for children 12 and under.
Come join us as we sport a winning attitude.
By Khurt Comrie for WBA Media.
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