National Community Basketball League… McDoom/Diamond looking to hand N/ Ruimveldt first defeat

The National Community Basketball League (NCBL) will continue tonight with the quarterfinal round as Nigel Hinds and Associates North Ruimveldt will trade baskets with McDoom/Diamond at the Cliff Anderson Sports hall (CASH) from 19:00hrs.

McDoom/Diamond, who has lost only one game so far, will come up against a North Ruimveldt team on a mission as the latter is still to be beaten in the tournament. North Ruimveldt has shown tremendous talent. They  have put their speed to great use when running the fast break while Stephon Henry has been a treat for the spectators as his killer crossovers usually entertain the fans during the game. However, McDoom/ Diamond, who can dominate with their physicality, can also run the fast-break well, especially when the ball goes in the hands of their star guard Travis ‘Blur’ Burnett.

Horace Hodges leads the tournament in rebounds for McDoom/Diamond and will have to stay on top of his game in order for his team to come out with the win.

Meanwhile, North Ruimveldt will definitely have to come out running if they are to counter the size and  physicality of the much more experienced side in McDoom/Diamond and will need their star players such as Damian Liverpool and Jason Squires to come out firing.

Speaking with McDoom/ Diamond’s star guard Burnett, he said he believes that North Ruimveldt will finally suffer the taste of disappointment because they have not faced any formidable opponents up to this point in the tournament.  “North Ruimveldt didn’t face a team with good players that really know the game and each other but I will bring speed and energy to my team in order to pull out the win,” Burnett commented.

Burnett also stated that he thinks that the match-up will probably be one of the best games for his team so far in the tournament and added that once his team plays as a unit they will win.

“I look forward to the game, I was waiting for it all week. This is a game that will test our strength and bring out the best in every one of our players. “However, once everybody knows their role we will be victorious,” Burnett told Stabroek Sport confidently. The supporting game will see a rival match-up of the Republic Bank versus the CARICOM Secretariat before the start of the anticipated quarterfinal. The supporting game is expected to be a spirited match-up between the two teams when the NCBL tips off from 19:00hrs.