Newly established Knockout champions- Sando Petro Jazz inched closer to another title after defeating Caledonia Clippers 73-71 in the first match of the second semifinal of the Mackeson Super 10 Basketball League Big Four competition at the Jean Pierre Complex, Mucurapo, on Thursday night. Unlike when the teams met earlier on in the league campaign, there was no clear winner defined throughout the match as the lead was shared between the two teams on a number of occasions. Petro Jazz, a team with an unassailable run of 13 straight wins, took the knockout title just 48 hours before, with a 93-85 win over the University of T&T (UT&T). Jazz was on top for the earlier exchanges and ended the first quarter with a 18-10 lead. Clippers, however, were evidently better in the second quarter, when they outscored Jazz 24-11, for a 34-29 half-time lead.
The Morvant-based club continued to lead into the third quarter, but by the time it reached to 57-50, Petro Jazz, led by point-guard Sadiki Guerra and centre Steve McSween rallied to a 11-3 run, which gave their team a 65-64 advantage that never rescinded from then on. At the point when Jazz led 73-71 nearing the match's end, Clippers had possession through Shawn Lawrence, but the centre player's final attempt at the basket was blocked by six-foot, five-inch centre-court Dextroy Manswell. Television replays confirmed that the block was clean as Petro Jazz put one foot into the final test of the season. Five players scored in double digits for Jazz, with McSween, the team's skipper leading the pack with 17 points. Guerra and Andrew Ifill tucked in 14 points apiece, while Wilfred Benjamin and Ako Pascall secured 13 and 11 points, respectively. Clippers' Casey Belgrove was the team's highest scorer with 16 points, while Shawn Lawrence followed with 15.
Results
Big Four Semifinal scores:
Petro Jazz 73 (Steve McSween 17 pts, 2 rebs; Sadiki Guerra 14 pts, 3 rebs; Andrew Ifill 14 pts; Wilfred Benjamin 13 pts, 15 rebs; Ako Pascal 11 pts, 2 stls) vs Caledonia Clippers 71 (Casey Belgrave 16 pts, 3 rebs, 3 stls; Shawn Lawrence 15 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks, 2 stls) Jazz leads series 1-0.
Detour Shak Attack 95 (Andy Best 25 pts, Kenneth Roberts 22 pts, Ancil Ollivierre 13 pts, 4 rebs; Orlando Mapp 12 pts) vs Defence Force 86 (Wilt Vincent 24 pts, 4 rebs; Steven Lewis 21 pts, Kevon Bacquain 13 pts, 7 rebs; Gerard Toney 11 pts). Shak Attack lead series 1-0.
