Last night (Friday) in the LIME National Basketball Playoffs, the third game of the semi-finals between Paix Bouche Eagles and LIME Pros of Grand Bay started off very sluggish with both teams feeling each other out.
No team wanted to take control and played very cautiously, but with so much at stake that did not last forever.
Then came the second half. The Pros began to play their game and push the ball up, and with some solid play from Ramal Carbon who used his height advantage, the LIME Pros began to pull away and lead by as much as 12 points. However, in the last quarter and closing minutes following a missed dunk by veteran player Ted George of Pros and a quick time-out by coach Egbert Charles of Eagles and a change of defense to man-to-man, the Eagles went on a 12-point roll to tie the game, while the Pros remained scoreless for almost 4 minutes.
It was then obvious that the Eagles was a much fitter tea. National player and leader of Eagles Andel (Brad) George took over the game and the Pros had no chance.
The final score was Paix Bouche Eagles 66 points to Lime Pros 58 points.
Top-scoring for Eagles were Andel George 34 pts and Earl Mathew 12 pts while in a losing effort Shamal Tonge 15 pts, Ted George 14 pts and Hakin Dangleben 12 pts for the Pros.
So the match up is set for the Premier Playoff Finals and what could be better than the two top teams playing for the national championship: Paix Bouche Eagles verses The Glam X-Men, featuring over six national team players – Garth Joseph, Andel George, Lynvor John, Simon Joseph, Joseph Hypolite and Davidson Toulon, and a first-time ever confrontation between top coaches Mickey Joseph and Egbert Charles.
It’s a final you wont want to miss and it starts this Wednesday at the Lindo Park.
Not to be forgotten, we have game three in the best of three finals of the Gloria Shillingford Raptors verses the Salisbury Juggernauts tonight (Saturday) at the Lindo Park from 8 pm.
Paixbouche takin it…win or lose paixbouche all the way!
Pros will go back to the drawing board. A SWOT analysis will show them the formidable weapons they have in Hakim Dangleben, Shamal Tonge, Ramal Carbon and Ted George; and the potential of Dwight. The analysis will also reveal the crippling weaknesses of not practicing together as a team; not spending time together as a unit, not discussing their plays as friends and not running every morning and going on the court every afternoon.
What made Bata Pros a championship team in the past was their unmatchable fitness. They were on the court every day for long hours. That brought about a camraderie that developed into unrivaled team spirit. They discussed their games at length and those translated Bonti’s speed, Jorky’s prowess and Perez’s explosive magic into championship victories.
What made Heineken Pros the fearsome warriors they were, was their internal discipline, their tireless legs, their team spirit and their constant discussing of the game and the game plan. Of course Pierro’s hook shot, Govern’s massive defense, Snaky’s unstoppable offense and Homo’s brilliant all-round execution of the game powered the all-out efforts that made them champions
Pros Junior and Sixty-Sixers brought the same mix into their successful championship bids. Yout’, Homo, Balo and the others would be on the court every day God make day and before every match they would meet their captain and coach Bonti Liverpool at his office at the Grand Bay Sub-Treasury to discuss and plan before walking down to Roseau to beat all comers on their own home court at the Windsor Park.
Same thing with Sixers. Again, under their captain and coach, the same Bonti Liverpool, Majay, Venno, Nico, Carbon (Ramal’s father) Roache, Johnny Roache, Earl Gregoire, Fanny and the other Sixers, would get up to run every morning, go on the court every afternoon and Bonti would sit down and plan out strategies with them man before and after every game (of course a bottle of rum was always there) but they won more than one championships.
So for next year, Pro has to look at those things that made Grand Bay teams win championships in the past: fitness, discipline, practicing together as a team, socializing as a unit to develop team spirit, (but of course not the rum.)
You had a reasonable good run this year…Congrats… Next year is championship year…Good luck.
Best of blessings to my boy Brad, and the Paix-Bouche team, you guys doing a Great job. keep it up.
Congrats Andel. U really play a good game. I know your family and the entire Paix Bouche community is proud.
we supporting paixbouche all the way from new york
LIME Pros I am disapponted. But y’all are still good, all the best next season
CONGRATS PAIX-BOUCHE. We taking the championsips home. All the best Eagles and Snipers. Peace and Health. Continue to be positive.