The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Commonwealth Bank Giants, in their bid to regain their New Providence Basketball Association (NPBA) title that they relinquished to the PJ Stingers last year, have regained control of the early leaderboard with another impressive victory.

The Giants, trailing by as much as 10 in the fourth quarter with about six minutes left in the feature game at the AF Adderley Gymnasium on Saturday night, managed to rally past the Real Deal Shockers 77-63.

And in a showdown between two new teams, the Elites Basketball Club powered past the Pirates 76-73.

On Friday night, the Stingers proved why they are the defending champions as they made it look so easy against the Double R Services Limited Cleaners with a 78-67 win to also remain undefeated, while runners-up Mr Ship It Freight Regulators prevailed 94-82 over the Mail Boat Cybots.

• Here’s a summary

of the games played:

Giants 77, Shockers 63

Quinton Demeritte pumped in 18 points with seven rebounds and three assists, Jarrell Coakley and Michael Bain Jr both had nine and seven rebounds respectively in the win. Samuel Johnson added nine points and nine rebounds.

Giants coach Perry Thompson said it was good to keep their winning streak alive, considering that they played another big team to prove their ability this year with the additions to their line-up.

“We knew it was going to be a very competitive game, especially being short-handed,” Thompson said. “We were happy to have Jarrell back after he just took the cast off his hand, or we would have really been in trouble because we had some players who couldn’t make it out because of work and other commitments.

“But all in all, it’s a fighting team and although they might be new playing together, they are practicing long enough and they are just starting to gel together. I’m happy with the way that Jr PJ has been working with the guys, putting in some structure.”

After leading 13-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Giants took a 30-26 lead into the half. The Shockers turned things around in the third with a 25-14 spurt to surge ahead 51-44.

The Real Deal, coached by James Price, went on another tear to start the fourth and increased it to 58-48 with about six minutes remaining. Commonwealth Bank applied the full court press and managed to rattle their opponents, who made some costly turnovers.

Before the Shockers realised the shock treatment, the game was tied. From there, the Giants took over and they never looked back, taking the ball inside and taking advantage of the bonus situation to stay ahead.

The combo of Samuel Johnson, Quinton Demeritte and Michael Bain took over down the stretch.

Floyd Armbrister scored 17 points with six rebounds before he was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct to lead the Real Deal. Their next highest scorer was Vernal Johnson with nine points and six rebounds. Salathiel Dean had eight points and 12 rebounds.

Elites Basketball 76,

Pirates 73

Terrell Colebrooke scored 19 points, brothers Dario McKenzie had 16 points and eight rebounds and Tario McKenzie had 11 points and four rebounds, Teneas Mackey had eight points and Livigi Forbes seven in the win for the Elites.

For the Pirates, Tavin Hudson scored 21 points with six rebounds, Wilfred McKinney had 13 points and a game high 14 rebounds, Kronoff Dean had 12 points with eight rebounds, Terrence Brown had nine points and three assists and as many steals and Donathon Johnson had seven points with 11 rebounds.

Stingers 78, Cleaners 67

Dion McPhee came up with 21 points and nine rebounds, Randy Williams had 17 points with five rebounds, Batchlette LaFleur had 16 points and 13 rebounds and both Devon Ferguson (eight rebounds) and Traves Roker had seven points apiece for the champions, who played short-handed.

Adolphus Leadon had 14 points and three rebounds, Lenny Oscar had 12 points with four rebounds and Romell Johnson added nine points in a losing effort for Double R Cleaners Limited.

Regulators 94, Cybots 82

With the gym jammed pack for the anticipated showdown in the feature contest, Gamaliel Rose was the only starter for Mr Ship It Freight in double figures with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three block shots.

The bench carried the bulk of the load with Alexander Rolle leading the attack with 22 points. Kenneth Pratt had 12 points, eight rebounds and three steals, Leonardo Lightbourne had 12 points and Simon Cruz had 10 points and four rebounds.

Eugene Bain scored 17 points with 10 rebounds, Lerucus Armbrister had 26 points, four steals and three assists, Jeremy Hutchinson had 15 points and nine rebounds and Cordero Pinder had 10 points and seven rebounds to pace the Mail Boat.

The league will be back in action this week with a number of games. Here’s a look at the schedule:

Tonight

7:30pm - Mr Ship It Freight Regulators vs Another her Level Basketball

9pm - Double R Services Limited Cleaners vs Island Game Pros

Wednesday

7:30pm - Everyone Wins Pros vs PJ’s Stringers

9pm - Rhythm Rebels vs College of the Bahamas Caribs

Friday

7:30pm - Athletico Bahamas vs Pyramid Food Rockets

9pm - Real Deal Shockers vs Double R Services Limited Cleaners

Saturday

7:30pm - Pirates vs Commonwealth Bank Giants

9pm - Mr Ship It Freight Regulators vs Island Game Pros

Team Standings

Teams W L Pct. GB

Vince Ferguson Division

College of the Bahamas Caribs 1 0 1,000 -

Mr Ship It Freight Regulators 1 1 .500 1/2

Island Luck Pros 1 1 .500 1/2

Mail Boat Cybots 1 1 .500 1/2

Real Deal Shockers 1 2 .333 1

Another Level Basketball 0 2 .000 2

Pirates 0 3 .000 21/2 3

John Archer Division

Commonwealth Bank Giants 3 0 1,000 -

Athletico Bahamas 2 0 1,000 1/2

Rythm Rebels 1 0 1,000 1

PJ Stingers 2 1 .666 1

Pyramid Food Rockets 1 1 .500 11/2

Everybody Wins Legends 1 1 .5-00 11/2

Double R Services Limited Cleaners 1 1 .500 11/2

Elites Basketball Club 1 3 .250 21/2