After two seasons of finishing third in the in the Ministry of National Security Hoop of Life Community Basketball Tournament, Caledonia is just one game away from booking their place in the title series after an exciting 77-73 semi-final victory over Marabella United at Bayshore Basketball Court, Marabella on Wednesday night.
It was game one of the two-match home-and-away series which brought the Train Line alive with over 2,000 fans as witnesses from the host community as well as the visiting supporters.
Marabella which played undefeated at the venue before their Wednesday night test, seemed set to record their seventh win in-a-row when they jumped out to 22-14 lead but the visitors rebounded in the second quarter to outscore them 23-24 to closed the first half with a one-point (37-36) advantage.
The prolific forward Ako Pascall, who has been carrying the team in their past 11 matches which included an 85-81 win over defending champion La Romaine Jet Stars in the knock-out phase, he was the key again, as he scored 11 of the his team-high 30 points in the third quarter that guided Marabella to a 22-17 score-line in the session that gave the host a 58-54 lead.
However, it was in the fourth session of a very competitive affair that Marabellla seemed set for victory with less that six minutes to play. However, Caledonia changed course with 5:22 to go and went on a 9-2 run which was sparked by baskets from forwards Kyeon Joseph, who scored nine of his game-high 31 points and Wesley Vincent who added six of his 19, pushing the team to a 23-15 score that saw them to victory by four points.
The visitors connected on four of their last six free-throws in the final two minutes to seal victory which tamed the home crowd.
When the teams met at the same stage two years ago, Marabella, who drove away from the venue with an 81-77 win but lost the return match 89-88 (one-point victory) at their home court, qualified for the finals with a three-point superior points difference.
In 2012 Pascall scored 35 points in the opening match on the Paradise Heights Court and 24 in the return match in Marabella.
Game-two is on Saturday in Morvant and it will be a critical match for both teams if they are to challenge for the $1.5 million dollars first prize.
Apart from Pascall, who Caledonia played man-to-man for the 40-minute duration, no other player reached double digits as David DeCoteau helped himself to nine points.
Maloney and Laventille had a date at St Barb's, Laventille in the other semi-finals.
The winner of the tournament will walk away with $1.5 million, while the runners-up will pocket $500,000, third placed team $250,000 and fourth place $100,000.
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GROUP 1: Marabella, La Romaine, Moriah, Diego Martin, Petit Valley, San Juan
GROUP 2: Valencia, Caledonia, Tunapuna, Siparia, Penal, Rio Claro
GROUP 3: Laventille, La Horquetta, Longdenville, Enterprise, Gonzales, La Brea.
GROUP 4: Mason Hall, Guaguayare, Sangre Grande, Bethel, Canaan, Maloney
Quarter-final Results
Marabella beat San Juan (111-67 & 84-72)
Laventille beat Enterprise (92-71 & 63-53)
Caledonia beat Rio Claro (85-54 & 83-74)
Maloney beat Sangre Grande (86-69 & 79-71)
RESULTS:
Semi-finals Match-ups (Game-1)
Marabella lost to Caledoinia, 77-73
Semi-final Match-ups: (Game-2)
Saturday 20th September, 2014
Caledonia v Marabella @ Paradise Heights, Morvant, 7:30 pm
Sunday 21th September, 2014 (Game-2)
Maloney v Laventille @ Maloney, 7:30 pm