– Jets and Kings in must-win match
The Amelia’s Ward Jets and Kashif and Shanghai Kings will clash tonight in a game where both teams must win to advance to the semi-finals in this year’s Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) under-19 tournament. Block 22 Flames and Pistons will meet in the opening game from 18:00 hours in a match-up that is expected to set the tone for the feature game which will see some of the best junior players in the town on show. The Jets and Ballers both fell to a hungry Raiders team with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation sponsored side losing 58-51 on the opening night of the tournament while the Amelia’s Ward-based club went down by two points last weekend (56-54).
However, Jets and Kings pounded away on the weakened Amelia’s Ward Ballers to gain their lone win to setup this evening’s mega clash.
National under-19 Captain Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai has only played one game for the Jets and that was in their loss to the Raiders, scoring 19 points, but it was Parish Cadogan and the other ‘unknown’ Jets marksmen who have been impressive.
Cadogan, who holds the national schools high jump under-15 and 17 record, led all scorers in his club’s last game with 20 points following up on the 14 that he scored in their first game.
The Kings on the other hand will be led by point guard Sheldron Noel; a textbook kind of player who can be deadly once he’s having a good night. He demonstrated that last week when he poured in a career best 30 points to help the Kings trample the Ballers 99-33. Noel should have admirable support from Jermain Joseph and centre Quincy Easton.
Already through to the semi-finals are Victory Valley Royals and Retrieve Raiders. Both teams played unbeaten in the preliminary stage of the competition. (Rawle Toney)
